'We had no idea': Students blindsided after OPS announcement eliminating alternative pathway
Dozens of Omaha high school students are devastated after learning their early college pathway will be eliminated at the end of the school year.
The Middle College Program is a joint effort between Omaha Public Schools and the University of Nebraska Omaha. Both say it was a collaborative decision, but students are still angry their input wasn't considered.
Several students called the program a hidden gem and said it was a life-changing opportunity. Current student Eva Casas told KETV she was utterly blindsided by the announcement.
"We had no idea. We weren't talked to about it like no one asked us about it," Eva said.
Eva is among dozens of students at Middle College, the first-ever pathway OPS offered for high-ability learners to start college early. On Wednesday, her family received an email from OPS stating, "The UNO/OPS Middle College Program will conclude at the end of the 2023-24 school year."
KETV spoke with Susan Christopherson, OPS chief academic officer, and Sarah Edwards, UNO Assistant Vice Chancellor for Curriculum and Programs, about the sudden decision.
"It wasn't an easy decision to come to because we know the impact that this opportunity has had for students for over 20 years," Christopherson said. "And so it's not a decision that comes to lightly."
Both OPS and UNO say the decision came after joining deliberation on their strategic plan to serve more students.
"How can we maximize opportunities for students both through early entry and dual enrollment so that we can focus on serving more students," Edwards said.
It's a decision that leaves each of the 40 current Middle College students shocked and heartbroken.
"We've finally found a place of, like, reliability and stability, which for a lot of us, it's been our whole school careers trying to find that," Eva said.
Eva said she felt unchallenged at her original high school and after seeing the success her sister Emma had attending and graduating Middle College, she knew it was the path for her too.
The sisters said Middle College is the first school where they and their peers have truly felt supported.
"I have never felt like as supported as I did when I was there," Emma said. "Like truly, everyone is in your corner, and everyone wants what's best for you."
And most importantly, safe.
"There's a lot of minority kids and LGBTQ people at the Middle College, and it's just such an accepting environment that, like, if you go to another school, you're not going to find that," Eva said.
Eva said she's stressed about what her next step will be, but she's more concerned for her peers with less support than her.
"I just wonder, like, without this program, how many people are just going to end up, you know, not even making it to college," Eva said.
With multiple other pathways offered, OPS and UNO stressed they're committed to working with each of the Middle College students to identify the best next step and pathway for them, but Eva said Middle College is not something that can be easily replaced.