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Upper Darby SD proposes NEON financial literacy pilot and structured college pathways with Delaware County CC
Summary
District staff proposed piloting a NEON college-level financial literacy course (estimated $300/student; $15,000/year for ~50 students) and starting structured pathways with Delaware County Community College (pre-nursing, business academy, business foundations). A student interest survey recorded 408 expressions of interest; the district will confirm feasibility during budget planning and partner admissions.
James Finch, the district supervisor of guidance and mathematics, presented proposals to expand dual-enrollment and structured-pathway options for Upper Darby high school students.
Finch recommended a NEON pilot to convert the existing personal finance course into a college-level financial literacy course (partner options mentioned included the Wharton School and Arizona State University). NEON tuition would cost approximately $300 per student; with an estimated 50 students across two sections, Finch said the projected annual investment would be roughly $15,000.
Separately, Finch outlined structured pathways with Delaware County Community College: a two-year pre-nursing pathway (approximately 23 college credits), a two-year business academy (about 24 credits), and a one-year business foundations pathway (12 credits). The district survey of 10th and 11th graders and families returned 408 expressions of interest (224 for pre-nursing, 104 for the business academy, 83 for business foundations, with some students selecting multiple options), representing about 20% of the current 10th'11th-grade population.
Finch presented a high-range cost estimate for initial implementation: assuming up to 20 students per pathway (60 students total) and an estimated annual cost of $1,440 per student (tuition and textbooks), the first-year maximum investment could be about $86,000; Finch emphasized this is upper-range and costs scale with enrollment. He also said final enrollment will depend on Delaware County Community College admissions criteria, placement testing, staffing availability, and scheduling.
Board members asked about caps and scaling; district leaders said colleges set seat caps (about 20 per pathway), and if demand grows the district could explore certifying district teachers to offer dual-enrollment locally or make partnerships with near-campus facilities, including an option at a location adjacent to the high school. Administration suggested budget planning and attrition-driven staffing changes could offset some costs if participation expands.
Why this matters: dual enrollment and structured pathways can accelerate students' postsecondary attainment and provide career-ready credentials, but expanding these programs requires financial commitments, partner capacity and scheduling alignment. The committee received the proposals as first looks and the administration said it would integrate options into the course selection guide and confirm feasibility during budget planning.
