While we want the best for them, sometimes all we can do for our children is give them opportunities. What they do with those opportunities and how they take advantage of them is really up to them.

Providing kids with opportunities is a key element of the educational process. It's also what the new partnership between Lancaster Mennonite School (LMS) and Millersville University is all about.

"The purpose is to provide opportunities for kids," said Kirk Benner, who's been LMS' high school principal for three years. "When a student comes to Lancaster Mennonite, no matter where their future is going to lead them, there are multiple opportunities here. It comes down to opportunities, and kids knowing we're here for them and what makes sense for them."

LMS and Millersville University recently entered into a partnership that will allow LMS juniors and seniors to take MU classes, either in person or online, and earn college credits. As part of the agreement, the LMS students will receive a significant reduction in their tuition fees for those courses.

"We are very pleased that Lancaster Mennonite High School students will now have a low-cost opportunity to earn high school and college credits simultaneously through our dual enrollment program," said Douglas Zander, Millersville University's associate vice president of enrollment management and dean of admissions. "We appreciate the strong preparation already offered by the high school, and this helps provide their students a seamless transition to higher education."

"The more we can offer kids and families, the better," said Benner. "One of our more recent goals is to become involved with community-based institutions like Millersville. We're looking to be engaged in the community. Millersville is right in our own backyard, and a lot of our teachers went to Millersville. This allows students to start their college careers in high school."

There are currently 534 students in prekindergarten through grade 12 enrolled at LMS, including 60 juniors and 55 seniors. Many of those upperclassmen will likely pursue postsecondary educations at a college or other institution, and the new partnership can give them a head start.

"I'd say there are a handful of students who will take advantage of this opportunity," said Benner. "Most of our students who are planning to go on to college take Advanced Placement classes. Most kids are walking out of here with some sort of college credit."

Last year, LMS entered into a dual enrollment partnership with Messiah University. The school has also enjoyed a similar agreement with Eastern Mennonite University for about eight years now.

"There is a reasonable limit," said Benner. "(The kids) are still full-time high school students. They still have full-time high school workloads, and we still want them to engage in extracurricular activities. We don't want to overburden them. In two years, they could earn a semester's worth of college credits."

"When we make these decisions, we really take into account what's in the best interest of the students," said Benner. "One of the beautiful things is that our counselors know the kids, know them well, and they can put together these options and individualize plans for them."

Most of the college credits earned by LMS juniors and seniors at Millersville University are transferrable to other colleges and institutions.

"We are excited for this partnership with Millersville Univerisity, a local university," said Benner. "We're glad to offer opportunities for our students that benefit them and reinforce our student-centered approach to learning. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Millersville University and other local partners."

For additional information about the LMS and Millersville University educational partnership, go to http://www.millersville.edu/admissions/undergrad/dual-enrollment.