Students at Escondido Charter School some day may find themselves halfway to a college certificate in several technical fields thanks to a program beginning next month.

"We want to give them some real-world experience," said David Tarr, director of career technical education at the school's Academy of Applied Technologies, a new program administrators highlighted in a dedication ceremony Friday afternoon.

The school will offer study programs in entertainment technology, digital design and marketing, information technology and public safety. Tarr said the academy also is creating a program in power production and transmission, and all the classes will provide students receiving a B or better college credit for Palomar College.

Dennis "Coach" Snyder, executive director of Escondido Charter School, said the academy will be a way for the school to serve a wider population of students.

"We're always looking at the types of students we're getting and how we can meet their needs," he said.

Not all high school graduates attend college in pursuit of four-year degrees, and Snyder said the school has created a program that would lead directly to skilled careers.

In selecting the five career paths that will kick off the academy, Snyder said, school officials contacted Cal State San Marcos and Palomar College to find careers that were both popular with students and promising in the job market.

The academy was funded with $750,000 from the Gary and Mary West Foundation and the Girard Foundation.

While the program itself doesn't kick off until August, students already are using a radio studio that will be part of the entertainment technology program, which will also teach video production and screenwriting. From 3 to 4 p.m. Fridays, students are hosting a radio show broadcast online as WSRadio.com.

Escondido Union School District Superintendent Jennifer Walters attended the Friday ceremony and said the academy is following a national trend of schools offering career paths.

Tarr said the academy will go further than many schools in offering courses leading to careers. Rather than offering an unrelated series of technical courses, the academy will allow students to earn up to 28 credits that can be transferred to Palomar College.

"You'll have to take another six or seven classes at Palomar in entertainment technology, for instance, but you'll already have six or seven classes under your belt," he said.

The charter school offers a traditional, five-days-a-week program and an independent student program. The Academy of Applied Technologies is part of the independent study program and will hold its first classes Aug. 10.

Applications are being accepted either at the school, 1868 E. Valley Parkway, or online at www.aatech.org. Tarr said 32 students have signed up so far.

Call staff writer Gary Warth at 760-740-5410.