Chicago plans to open hybrid of high school and community college

From The Chicago Tribune: A new type of school will enter Chicago's crowded public education system next fall, a kind of high school-community college hybrid that could one day become a model for preparing students for professional careers. Mayor Rahm Emanuel helped secure a $400,000 grant from IBM that will lay the groundwork for as many as five new public schools in the city in 2012-13. Each would offer technical training in areas such as computer technology and engineering. The schools are a departure from traditional vocational high schools because incoming freshmen could be enrolled for up to six years and leave school with an associate's degree and specialized training. Graduates also will be given preference for entry-level jobs at IBM.