New College Level Program Comes To Sarasota High

Starting in the 2011-12 school year, high school students in Sarasota County will have another rigorous educational program to choose from. The Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) program will begin at

AICE is a rigorous, college-level program that gives students a choice in the educational path they take. It will rival similar programs already offered in the district such as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate.

School officials expect the program will give students more educational choices, increase student performance and help boost enrolment at Sarasota High.

A student enrolled in AICE will begin 'pre-AICE' classes during his or her freshman year and will then enter the AICE program during sophomore year. Students can chose their own path but must pass six AICE exams, with at least one exam in the three curriculum areas (Math and Science, English and Arts and Humanities).

AICE was created by Cambridge University in 1994. It is currently in 21 other schools in the state of Florida.

The idea for AICE at Sarasota High came about after teachers approached the school's administration.  "Teachers expressed a desire to step of the level of rigor," said Sarasota High vice principal Eric Jackson.  

Jackson added that while it would require extra training for teachers to be able to teach AICE classes, "it will help us to develop professional growth."

Laurie Saslow, who teaches physics at Sarasota High, addressed the board at the Nov. 16 work session to talk about her first-hand experience with AICE.

"The AICE physics …  I was blown away at the energy and collaboration. The No. 1 benefit that we thought AICE had was the perfectly well designed syllabus," Saslow said. "Every benchmark is tested. Every question in the AICE physics test is a benckmark. The teachers know exactly what's needed. It makes it more fun to teach when you know exactly what's being tetsted.

By the Numbers

Sarasota High School Principal Jeff Hradek expressed concern about falling enrollment at Sarasota at the Nov. 16 school board work session. He said four or five years ago, the student body at Sarasota High was 2,700. Now, there are only 1,900.

"I'm frustrated by the amount of students leaving our school by choice," Hradek said.

Last year, Sarasota High lost 200 students to Pineview, 354 to Riverview, 213 to Sarasota Military Academy, 129 to Suncoast Polytech and 131 to Booker High School.

"Those are level 3, 4 and 5 students," Hradek said. "They are the ones who help take your academic program to that next level.

"In spite of these losses, our teachers have done an outstanding job," Hradek said. Sarasota High had the highest FCAT score increases in Sarasota County, he added.

"AICE provides us to increase student enrollment, attract students from within our district," Jackson added. "But with that said, we think this is going to benefit teachers and benefit our school as well."

What Does This Mean for Students?

• Students who earn an AICE degree and complete 75 hours of community service are eligible to get a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
• AICE courses are equivalent to AP, dual enrollment and IB programs, except AICE college credits are more likely to be accepted at a larger number of universities around the nation and worldwide.
• Completing the program will result in the student earning up to 45 college credits.

"I do recommend that we do move forward [with AICE]," said Sarasota County superintendent Lori White.  "I've always been a believer in this program.

"Having it come from the teachers is what makes this successful. When you have teachers exited and enthusiastic, embracing this level of rigor; it takes a lot of commitment. That's what makes this high a probability of success," White said.