Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Two New Early College Partnerships in Springfield

Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Two New

Early College Partnerships in Springfield

 

New programs will allow 880 students to enroll in Early College in Spring 2026

 

SPRINGFIELD – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced the approval of two new Early College partnerships that will expand opportunities for Springfield students to earn free college credits while still in high school.  

 

Emergence Academy and the High School of Commerce, both part of the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership (SEZP), are approved to launch Early College programs in partnership with Worcester State University following a vote by the Early College Joint Committee of the Boards of Higher Education and Elementary and Secondary Education.  

 

These new partnerships bring the statewide total to 75 and allow 880 additional high school students to enroll in Early College programs next spring. Across Massachusetts, 78 high schools and 32 higher education institutions support more than 10,000 students in the 2025-26 school year, with the goal of providing Early College access to as many as 22,000 students by the end of the decade. 

 

“We're committed to expanding opportunities that put every student on a path to success,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These new Early College partnerships in Springfield will open doors for students to earn free college credits, explore career pathways and build the confidence they need to thrive after graduation.” 

 

“Early College is one of the best ways we can ensure students are prepared for both college and career,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By building these partnerships in Springfield, we’re increasing access to higher education and helping young people stay rooted in their communities while pursuing big goals.” 

 

“We’re excited to see the impact these Early College programs will have on Springfield students and families,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “By combining the resources of Worcester State University with the energy and commitment of Emergence Academy and the High School of Commerce, we’re setting students up for long-term success in education and the workforce.”  

 

Emergence Academy, a school dedicated to serving newly arrived immigrant students, is launching an Arts Pathway Early College program designed to support all learners, particularly multilingual students, by offering entry points through arts-based and heritage language courses. The new partnership between the High School of Commerce and Worcester State University will strengthen the existing wall-to-wall Early College program with Springfield Technical Community College by expanding course capacity and enabling students to earn additional general education and elective credits. 

 

“We are deeply grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the Early College Joint Committee of the Boards of Higher Education and Elementary and Secondary Education, and Worcester State University for making this expansion possible,” said Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Sonia Dinnall. “Early College lays the groundwork for higher education and higher-paying careers. It helps build the confidence and skills our students need to thrive. In Springfield, we believe in the potential of every student, and this investment propels our work to expand opportunity under our college and career readiness focus, one of four districtwide priorities driving us forward. It is especially meaningful to extend this opportunity to newly arriving immigrant students at Emergence Academy, affirming that their dreams matter and their futures are bright. Just as importantly, the added capacity at the High School of Commerce means even more students will earn free college credits and graduate high school more prepared and empowered to believe in what they can achieve.”  

 

“I am pleased to see the expansion of Early College with additional schools in the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership. These partnerships build on the tremendous success Worcester State has already achieved with Early College Worcester, one of the state’s largest programs with Worcester Public Schools and Veritas Prep Charter School in Springfield. Early College is a powerful pipeline that encourages high school students to see themselves as college students who can succeed in earning a bachelor’s degree,” said Worcester State University President Barry Maloney. “As an alum of Springfield Public Schools and a proud native of the city, I am especially gratified to see this opportunity expanding in my hometown. Now, with students from Emergence Academy and the High School of Commerce joining us, we look forward to welcoming even more Springfield students to Worcester State University.” 

 

Early College programs are a key part of the administration’s Reimagining High School initiative, ensuring Massachusetts students are prepared for college or careers when they graduate. These programs allow high school students, especially those underrepresented in higher education, to earn college credits at no cost to them or their families while still in high school.  

 

“Early College is a great way for students to graduate from high school ahead of the game, and I’m glad to see Early College offerings expand,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez. “It expands students’ perceptions of what is possible and puts them on the path of a college education.” 

 

“This new collaboration is another great example of how our colleges and universities, high schools and community partners are working together to grow opportunities for students,” said Higher Education Commissioner Noe Ortega. “Early college helps students access and succeed in higher education, and growing these opportunities is crucial to having more equitable higher education opportunities in Massachusetts.”  

 

Today’s new partnerships build on the 34 designations the administration made over the last two years, increasing the number of Early College participants by 3,700 since spring 2022-23, a 59 percent increase. In June, the Administration announced 18 new partnerships that will add more than 3,900 seats by 2030. The administration also recently released new data analysis that shows the state’s investment in Early College is paying off, with 66 percent of Early College graduates immediately enroll in higher education after high school, with the majority enrolling at a public college or university in Massachusetts. Once enrolled in higher education, former Early College are also persisting - with 87 percent staying in college through a second term and 82 percent returning to college for a second year. 

 

"Early College programs are a great equalizer of educational opportunity, and the Board of Education is thrilled that Springfield students will get this life-changing opportunity to engage in higher education while they complete their high school programs," said Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Chair Katherine Craven. 

 

For more information on Early College programs, visit DESE’s website.