Last week, we published articles about two promising programs involving Richmond Public Schools.

First, Mayor Dwight C. Jones shone a spotlight on the “Future Centers” that are to be opened at three of Richmond’s high schools.

Their purpose: To help students better connect with college and career opportunities.

As proposed, these centers are to help students better plan for life after high school. Among other things, the centers are to aid students in seeking scholarships to pay for college or assist them in seeking employment.

Second, Richmond is teaming up with nine other school districts, including Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover counties, to create a regional high school to train students in computer programming and open the door for careers in computer science.

According to the plan, this school represents thinking outside the box.

Instead of a traditional brick-and-mortar building and courses driven by state Standards of Learning tests, students would take courses online and be assessed for mastery and competence. They also would race through high school in two years and spend the final two years gaining experience by working on computer programming projects for a private company that would pay them.

And once done, according to the proposal, students could graduate with both a high school degree and an associate degree from a community college and have a guarantee of employment if they do not want to go on to college.

If this program works, then similar programs could be tried in other career areas, such as health care and finance.

Organizers hope to open the school by September 2016.

On paper, both programs sound like winners that could have a real impact on the lives of our children.

But as the old saying goes, “the proof is in the pudding.”

Too many times we have been told that one new program or another will usher in a big change. Alas, the results too often have been less than advertised.

At this point, we can only hope these new programs live up to their billing.