It’s being called the “Vertical Alignment Project.”
It brings K-12 teachers together with college instructors – to determine what students need to know before they get into college – and cut down on the amount of remedial classes needed at the college level.
"We need to make sure that the students going through teacher training are being taught on the right curriculum that aligns with K-12," said Dr. Larry Skogen, the president of Bismarck State College and acting Chancellor of Higher Education. "It's sort of a cycle, right? You teach the teachers at the college and university level on the curriculum they're going to teach in K-12, and that prepares students that come back into the University System. So we have a full cycle going."
This summer, the efforts focus on mathematics and English language arts. Sessions are being held at BSC and Valley City State University.