The Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Nine New Early College Programs Across the Commonwealth
New Programs Include First
Early College Partnerships with UMass
Total Number of High Schools with Early College
Now Nearly 60
BOSTON –– Yesterday afternoon, the Early College
Joint Committee under the Healey-Driscoll administration unanimously voted to
expand the Massachusetts Early College program, adding nine additional Early
College partnerships and increasing the number of participating high schools to
nearly 60 high schools across the Commonwealth. Among the new programs
are three partnerships with Boston Public Schools and UMass Boston,
the first Early College programs with UMass. The additional Early College
programs also scale up partnerships in Gateway Communities as well as in
rural communities.
With these additional programs, nearly 7,800 Massachusetts students are
projected to be enrolled in Early College programs by the upcoming school year.
Following the Joint Committee’s vote, there are now 48 designated Early College
program partnerships across 58 high schools and 27 higher education
institutions across the Commonwealth. Over 70% of the programs will now be in
high schools within Gateway cities or Boston, and all are reaching students who
have been historically underrepresented in higher education.
The Healey-Driscoll administration is committed to continuing to expand the
Early College program and other workforce and higher education pathways that
ensure Massachusetts students have the opportunities they deserve when they
graduate high school. Governor Maura Healey’s and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll’s
FY24 budget proposal includes nearly $47 million for Early College and
Innovation Pathways, a $14.4 million increase from FY23.
“I am thrilled to see our Early College program expanding to nearly 60 high
schools in the Commonwealth. Early College gives students, particularly those
who have been historically underrepresented in higher education, the option to
try out college courses at no cost—creating a more competitive and equitable
Massachusetts as more of those students continue their higher education,” said Governor Maura Healey. “That’s
why our FY24 budget proposal makes targeted investments to expand pathways to
success and build our skilled workforce, including increases to Early
College.”
“As the Mayor of Salem, I saw firsthand the invaluable advantage for students
participating in Early College programs and the benefits the programs could
bring to partnership universities like Salem State. These nine new Early
College programs are a win for the high schools and their students and
families, the higher education institutions, and the future workforce in these
communities,” said Lieutenant
Governor Kim Driscoll. “Governor Healey and I have proposed
funding increases to opportunities like Early College, Innovation Pathways, and
even apprenticeships, because every student, no matter their zip code, deserves
access to a successful future.”
“It is wonderful to see nine new Early College programs established for
students across Massachusetts. In my previous role as Superintendent in Lynn, I
oversaw the creation of the Commonwealth’s second largest Early College
program, because Early College programs can make all the difference in the
futures of our students,” said Education
Secretary Patrick Tutwiler. “Early career pathways, like those
provided by Early College and Innovation Pathways programs, are how we start to
reimagine and transform high school — empowering students with opportunities
for success.”
“UMass is excited to receive our first official Early College designation from
the Healey-Driscoll administration,” said UMASS President Marty Meehan. “With our colleagues
at UMass Boston, we look forward to working with our partner high schools to
open these brand new Early College programs and create new higher education
opportunities for their students.”
The Massachusetts Early College program gives students the opportunity to take
college courses and earn credits at no cost before they graduate high school.
Early College allows students to get a head start on their higher education and
contributes to significantly higher college enrollment and completion rates,
particularly for low-income, minority and first-generation college students. In
2019, approximately 76 percent of Early College students enrolled in college
after graduation compared to 55 percent of their peers who did not participate
in Early College. Data shows that the benefits from Early College make the
biggest difference for students who are English learners, but those benefits
are still significant for students of color and students from lower economic
backgrounds.
In addition to the three new programs announced with UMass Boston, The
University of Massachusetts system is currently piloting the Commonwealth
Collegiate Academy early college program with eight partner high schools, UMass
Lowell, and UMass Dartmouth. The initiative is funded by a state incubator
grant.
The Early College Joint Committee is charged with designing, developing and
coordinating the administration of Massachusetts’ statewide Early College
program. The members of the Joint Committee include Secretary Tutwiler,
Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Jeffrey C. Riley, Commissioner
of Higher Education Noe Ortega, Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
(BESE) Chair Katherine Craven, Board of Higher Education (BHE) Chair Chris
Gabrieli, BESE member Matt Hills, and BHE member Paul Toner.
The Nine New Early College
Designations Include:
- Athol
High School (Athol Royalston Regional School District) and Mount Wachusett
Community College and Fitchburg State University
- Boston
Community Leadership Academy (Boston Public Schools) and University of
Massachusetts Boston
- Brighton
High School (Boston Public Schools) and Bunker Hill Community
College
- Drury
High School (North Adams Public Schools) and Massachusetts College of
Liberal Arts
- Fenway
High School (Boston Public Schools) and University of Massachusetts
Boston
- Malden
High School (Malden Public Schools) and Bunker Hill Community
College
- New
Mission High School (Boston Public Schools) and University of
Massachusetts Boston
- Revere
High School (Revere Public Schools) and North Shore Community
College
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