For many students, the transition from high school to college can feel like a major leap. New expectations, heavier workloads, greater independence and the challenge of managing time can all take some getting used to.
But what if students could begin that transition before they even graduate?
Thanks to a partnership with SUNY Broome, that process is now easier than ever before.
Through the Fast Forward program, M-E students have the opportunity to take college-level courses while still in high school – all while earning college credits at no cost to them.
But the benefits of these classes go well beyond the credits.
For students planning to attend college after graduation, Fast Forward can mean fewer courses to take later, potential savings on tuition, and the opportunity to complete some general education requirements before they ever set foot on a college campus.
And perhaps just as importantly, Fast Forward gives students a chance to experience the rigor and responsibility of college coursework while they still have the support of their high school teachers.
Karin Mann, who teaches Fast Forward courses including College Statistics, sees the program as an important part in preparing students for life after high school.
“The Fast Forward program is a tremendous asset to the high school students and our community. It not only allows the students to earn college credits at no cost, but it gives them experience completing college coursework and developing the time management, responsibility, and independent learning skills needed for success after high school,” said Mann.
For Mann, College Statistics is particularly valuable because of how widely the skills can be applied.
Statistics plays a role in careers ranging from medicine and science to business, the military, sports and politics. Students aren't simply learning formulas - they're learning how data can be used to understand problems and make decisions.
“Colleges seek students with strong problem-solving and analytical skills and have expressed to high schools the importance of statistical literacy. Maine-Endwell offering these classes is building the students’ college and career readiness,” said Mann.
That college readiness is a common theme throughout the Fast Forward program.
Shauna Stiles, who teaches Fast Forward art courses, said the program gives students an opportunity to “dip their feet into college-level rigor” while preparing them for what awaits them after graduation.
In Beginning Drawing, for example, college students typically spend approximately seven hours per week in studio time. That means students have to take ownership of the rest, learning to manage their time – an important skill to take with them as they continue their education.
“Students are often surprised at the amount of work needed for Fast Forward courses, especially in art. You will often find Fast Forward students in the classroom studio after school and on their free periods working on their projects and homework assignments,” Stiles said.
That experience - learning how to manage a demanding workload, use time effectively and take responsibility for completing work independently, is itself part of the learning process.
And of course - the college credit is an added benefit. Stiles explained that M-E educators work closely with college department heads to ensure the high school courses align with their college counterparts.
For students, that alignment can provide a seamless way to earn credits before heading to college. For M-E alum Ben Berdine, who graduated in June, the value of those credits were especially clear.
“Being able to actually get these credits now and not have to take other classes in college is very, very, very helpful. Not only are we getting to do more art with Ms. Stiles, who is incredible, we also get to prepare ourselves more for college itself,” said Berdine.
Natalie Turan, a fellow art student agrees, highlighting the demanding, but rewarding challenge of the classes.
“It's pushing me to do art that I didn't really think I could do,” said Turan.
The challenge is exactly what makes the experience valuable.
Stella Sheldon, a 2026 Fast Forward Physics student, says she enjoyed the extra challenge of taking a college-level course while building important college-readiness skills along the way. And for her classmate, Ada Chamleunsouk, the experience has helped her understand what life after high school will demand.
“It helps me understand how much work I'll be getting and how to manage my time after school, and also how hard the courses will be after high school,” she said.
In some cases, Fast Forward courses can offer students an even greater opportunity.
Kyle Tibbits, who teaches Fast Forward Physics, points out that his course is unique in that it’s also a concurrent course. That means students can earn Fast Forward college credits while also earning Regents credits.
“They’re getting three for the price of one,” Tibbits said.
Another benefit of Maine-Endwell’s Fast Forward classes – their diversity across various fields of study.
This year, M-E students are enrolled in Fast Forward courses across a variety of disciplines including:
College Algebra and Trig for Calculus
College Beginning Drawing
College Calculus I/II
College Fitness Walking
College Foundations of American Education
College French
College Spanish
College 3-D Design
College Intro to Anatomy and Physiology
College Physics
College Solutions in Fitness and Wellness
College Statistics
College Writing
College So You Want to Be an Educator (Binghamton University)
Thanks to our multiple Fast Forward offerings, M-E’s program features more than 400 student enrollments in these classes, demonstrating just how significant the program has become. College Spanish for example, saw an enrollment of 60 students per semester last school year.
And those opportunities are continuing to grow this year. New courses for the 2026-2027 school year include Ceramics, Music Production and Entrepreneurship.
These additions will give even more students the chance to explore their interests at a college level while earning valuable credits along the way. Ultimately, that's what makes Fast Forward such a powerful opportunity.
It's about saving students and families money. It's about earning college credits before graduation. It's about potentially checking off general education requirements and getting closer to a degree.
But it's also about something bigger: giving our students a jumpstart on their futures.
They're learning what college-level work feels like, all while managing their time, working independently, and pushing themselves beyond what they thought they could do.
And when graduation day arrives, they'll leave Maine-Endwell with more than a diploma.
They'll leave with experience, confidence, college credit, and, for many, a significant jumpstart on their next chapter.
View a video feature on our Fast Forward Classes here: