SANFORD - The North Carolina General Assembly has wrapped up its session - and among the bill approved is one for funding for NC Works Career Coaches.

The funding will establish a program to place local community college-employed career coaches in high schools, which mirrors the Central Carolina Works program established by Central Carolina Community College.

CCW is an educational initiative by a consortium including Central Carolina Community College, education (Chatham County Schools, Harnett County Schools, and Lee County Schools), business, industry, and community leaders.

CCW funds the placement of career and college advisors in each of the public high schools in Chatham, Harnett, and Lee counties. These advisors work one-on-one with students to help them take advantage of the state-funded Career and College Promise (CCP) program.

CCP enables high school juniors and seniors to enroll, tuition-free, in college credit courses that also apply toward their high school diploma. By the time they graduate from high school, they could earn a certificate and have a jump-start on their career or college education.

The most recent statistics concerning CCCC's CCP program include:

• 797 students are enrolled in CCP classes from the nine area high schools, up from 429 last fall.
• 1,144 total high school students are enrolled in CCP classes. This includes Lee Early College, private and charter school students, and home school students.
• 16% of juniors and seniors are enrolled in CCP classes from the nine area high schools.

"Securing funding for the NC Works Career Coaches program in this biennium's budget was a huge win for students and something that I have advocated for all year," said Sen. Chad Barefoot (R-Wake.) "I have been a great admirer of the Central Carolina Works program and wanted to expand their success to other school districts. This program will connect our students to good-paying jobs by placing community college career coaches in high schools to assist students with determining their career goals and developing a plan to achieve those goals."

Kirk Bradley, Chairman, President & C.E.O. of Lee-Moore Capital Company, who led the intensive fund-raising to launch the CCW initiative, said he thinks it is terrific that Sen. Barefoot spearheaded funding to allow other communities to enjoy the benefits of a program like Central Carolina Works.

"The results to date of Central Carolina Works have far exceeded our expectations," said Bradley. "There is no doubt that taking this program across the state will help both education and economic development efforts in those communities that choose to participate.

"It is humbling to see innovations from Central Carolina Community College being used across the state and across the nation as everyone tries to ensure more post high school credentials for its citizens as a prerequisite for success in the 21st Century global economy."

Julian Philpott, Chairman of the CCCC Board of Trustees, said he is pleased that the state has used the Central Carolina Works program model. "This advising model helps improve the students' abilities to make career choices in concert with their interests and skills," said Philpott.

CCCC President Dr. T.E. Marchant said the Central Carolina Works program has seen great progress.

"Our CCW Career and College Advisors are doing a phenomenal job in working with the high school students in our three-county area," said Marchant.

"The Central Carolina Works program owes much of its success to Kirk Bradley, who has spearheaded the fundraising effort, and to Julian Philpott, the chairman of our college trustees.

"In addition, the college is proud to partner with the Central Carolina area school systems and county commissioners in helping to see this program come to fruition."

For more information on the Central Carolina Works program, contact CCCC Director of Secondary Partnerships Virginia Mallory at vbrown@cccc.edu or by telephone at 919-718-7370, or visit the website www.cccc.edu/highschool/inHS, or visit the CCW blog www.cccc.edu/ccwblog. Those who wish to be added to the CCW monthly newsletter can contact Mallory.

For more information on Central Carolina Community College, visit www.cccc.edu.