Massachusetts Early College Initiative / Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

Overview

The purpose of the Early College Initiative is create and maintain partnerships connecting our state’s districts and high schools with our state’s colleges. in order to give thousands of Massachusetts students, especially first-generation college-goers, access to college completion and career success.

Contact

Christine Williams
Director of Strategic Initiatives,
Academic Affairs and Student Success
(617) 994-6911
cwilliams@dhe.mass.edu

Dr. Kristin Hunt
Early College Program Director
(781) 338-3110
Kristin.E.Hunt@mass.gov

Duration

2017 – Present

Funding

Related Data

Links

Joint BHE & BESE Resolution
Application Criteria for Early College Program Designation
COVID-19 EC CDEP FAQs

Student Identities

Focus Areas

Partnerships

Department of Elementary & Secondary Education

Related Initiatives

Commonwealth Dual Enrollment Partnership

Background

The vision of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (BHE) and Board of Elementary & Secondary Education (BESE) is for growth and sustainability of high-quality early college partnerships connecting our state’s districts and high schools with our state’s colleges. These partnerships will all be aimed at giving thousands of Massachusetts students, especially first-generation college-goers, access to college completion and career success.

Featured

Early College Students Show Strong Gains in College Enrollment

August 2020 – Black, Latinx Students in Early College Attend College at Higher Rates than State and School Peers

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Massachusetts high school students who graduate from Early College programs are applying for federal financial aid and enrolling in college at significantly higher rates than their school or state peers, according to the first preliminary data analysis completed since the program began, the Baker-Polito Administration announced today.

The Departments of Higher Education and Elementary and Secondary Education also announced today that they are awarding designations to six new early college programs scheduled to begin offering courses in fall 2020. With the new designations, there are 37 different high schools and 19 colleges and universities that have partnered to offer Early College programs to thousands of students across the Commonwealth.

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Baker-Polito Administration Designates New Early College Programs

June 2019 – Programs at thirteen high schools and eight public colleges across the Commonwealth received designation

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Governor Charlie Baker awarded designation to early college programs at 13 high schools and eight public colleges across the Commonwealth that will enroll thousands of students next fall, giving them opportunities to study in college-level courses and earn credits before they graduate high school.

Governor Baker and Education Secretary James Peyser made the announcement during an event at Bunker Hill Community College, organized to recognize the high schools and colleges that have launched programs designated by the state this school year.

With the new awards, there are 35 high schools and 18 colleges in Massachusetts with designated early college programs. Early college programs combine traditional high school classes with college courses through a local college or university to give students knowledge and exposure to an area of study, while earning up to 12 college credits – equivalent to one semester-- for free. By creating designated early college programs, the Baker-Polito Administration aims to break down barriers between high school and higher education to create a more seamless path for students to move to college and careers.

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Baker-Polito Administration designates four more early college programs to give students a head start

July 2018 – In May, the Administration granted official designation status, for the first time, to five programs. Four more programs were designated in July 2018.

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BOSTON — The Baker-Polito Administration today gave official designation to four additional early college programs that will help high school students prepare for college academics, while earning college credits at no cost to them. The four new programs – at public high schools in Lawrence, Holyoke, Westfield, Springfield, and Worcester – will bring the statewide total to nine and enroll thousands of students this fall to study in a particular field that interests them.

Early college programs combine traditional high school classes with college courses through a local public college or university to give students knowledge and exposure to an area of study, while earning up to 12 college credits – equivalent to one semester - for free. Early college boosts college completion rates for low-income students, minority students, and first-generation college-goers by exposing students to college-level work and different career pathways before they graduate high school. The college courses are designed to fulfill high school graduation requirements and award college credit.

By creating designated early college programs, the Baker-Polito Administration aims to break down barriers between high school and higher education in order to create a more seamless path for students to move to college and careers. In May, the Administration granted official designation status, for the first time, to five programs.

"Boosting the number of early college programs in the Commonwealth is a priority for our administration that will provide more students with an opportunity to attend and complete college,” Governor Charlie Baker said. “Exposing high school students to college courses in a field that interests them, and offering college credits at no cost, willmake the transition to college easier and better prepare many students for successful careers following their education.”

Designated Programs >

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Early College

Early College programs are intentionally designed to empower students traditionally underrepresented in higher education. MA Early College Designated Programs work to blend elements of high school and college to provide students with the opportunity to experience and complete college level academic coursework on a clearly articulated pathway and simultaneously gain exposure to a variety of career opportunities. Early college programs also reduce the time and expense of earning a college credential while increasing the likelihood of completion.

A Brief History of MA Early College

In 2016, the Boards of Higher Education and Elementary and Secondary Education looked at whether the state could devise an early college strategy. They commissioned a study, done by Parthenon-EY Education Practice, to look at the potential for the development of Early College in Massachusetts The report confirmed that Early College is a promising model that narrows educational opportunity gaps, and that existing programs would provide a powerful base from which to build a broader statewide Early College initiative. Following these findings in January 2017, the boards of Elementary and Secondary Education and Higher Education jointly launched an initiative intended to support the expansion of Early College and establish an Early College Designation. The boards also created an Early College Joint Committee (ECJC), charged with developing the Early College Designation Process for the Commonwealth.

Early College Designation Process and Timeline — SY2022-2023

SY2022 Early College Program Designation For Program Implementation and Enrollment Fall 2023
We encourage all partnerships who are designing Early College programs who are planning to meet the Designation Criteria available above to pursue MA Early College Designation. Along with program and fiscal support, the Early College Designation Process ensures that students across the Commonwealth are receiving expanded access to higher education opportunities, especially students traditionally underrepresented in higher education institutions.

The Commonwealth is pleased to once again offer its local secondary education agencies and institutions of higher education the opportunity to obtain formal designation for Early College Programs. Designed collaboratively by the EOE, DESE, and DHE, MA Early College Program Designation will entail a two-step process ("Part A" and "Part B"). By April 13, 2022, a comprehensive designation timeline will be posted, including links to SY23 Part A application and Letter of Intent.

Early College Program Designation Application Companion Document 2022 >

This companion document is designed to provide important information on the Designation process and requirements, as well as context for the criteria to be met under each of the five Guiding Principles.

Designation Readiness Checklist >

The Early College Readiness Checklist is a resource for prospective Early College partners to guide their pre-planning for the Designation application process.

Designation Timeline

April 13, 2022 – Part A Application and Letter of Intent available online. (Please note these links will not open and accept responses until Wednesday, April 13th, 2022).
For more information about the components of the Application, please review the Part A Designation guidance in the Designation Companion document . You can download the Word Document of the Part A Application here.
April 14, 2022 – Early College Designation Orientation (note: this event will also be offered on May 4, 2022). 9:30 AM. Register here: https://www.doe.mass.edu/conference/?ConferenceID=10360
April 26, 2022 – Early College Spring Convening, including information session on applying for SY2023 Designation. Register here: https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/B1BUQx
May 4, 2022 – Early College Designation Orientation (note: this event was also offered on April 14, 2022). 9:30 AM. Register here: https://www.doe.mass.edu/conference/?ConferenceID=10360
June 17, 2022 – “Nuts and Bolts” of Early College Designation Part A – Register here: http://www.doe.mass.edu/conference/?ConferenceID=10367
Summer 2022 – Office hours and individualized technical assistance available, as well as an applicant professional learning series on the Guiding Principles. Coming soon: session topics, dates, and registrations links.
August 2022 – Part A Applications Due
September 2022 – Announcement of Applicants advancing to Part B. Part B application sent directly to applicants.
October 2022 – Early College Designation Part B Application Webinar
December 2022 – Part B Applications due
February 2023 – Designation recommendations reviewed by the Early College Joint Committee

Additional Resource: NS4Ed, in partnership with the MA Early College staff, has created a resource site to support the Early College community of practice. Visit www.MAEarlyCollege.com to learn more.

If you are seeking additional information on Early College, please contact the Early College Program Director at Kristin.Hunt@doe.mass.edu

Please check this page regularly for updates.

Early College Joint Committee

The Early College Joint Committee is charged with designing, developing and coordinating the administration of a Massachusetts early college program based on the process and key design principles set forth in the joint resolution of the Boards of Elementary & Secondary Education and Higher Education, approved at their joint meeting on January 24, 2017.

Chris Gabrieli, Chair, Massachusetts Board of Higher Education
Matt Hills, Member, Massachusetts Board of Elementary & Secondary Education
James Peyser, Secretary of Education
Katherine Craven, Chair, Massachusetts Board of Elementary & Secondary Education
Paul Toner, Member, Massachusetts Board of Higher Education
Jeff Riley, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (non-voting)
Carlos Santiago, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (non-voting)

Design Principles

Under the Early College Designation put forth by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (BHE) and Board of Elementary & Secondary Education (BESE), approved designated early college programs in Massachusetts will align with the following design principles:

1. Equitable Access

targeting underrepresented students in higher education

4. Connections to Career

through workplace and experiential learning experiences

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2. Academic Pathways

that are well integrated and aligned with college and career

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5. High-Quality & Deep Partnerships

between high schools and colleges

3. Robust Student Support

in both academics and advising

Designated Early College Programs

Following a rigorous two phased application process based on the Massachusetts Early College Criteria, the Early College Joint Committee granted the first designations to five programs in May 2018. Four more programs were designated in July 2018. During the 2018-2019 school year, nearly 1,500 students enrolled in designated early college programs around the state, increasing to nearly 2,280 in the subsequent year.

In the 2021-2022 year, enrollment in designated early college programs are projected to jump to 4,000 students. As of June 2021, there are 22 IHEs and 42 high schools designated across 31 programs.

Partnerships with Official Designation

District (High School)/Charter School Partner(s)		Institutions of Higher Education Partner(s)	Designation Date
1	Boston Public Schools (Charlestown High School)	Bunker Hill Community College)	April 2018
2	Chelsea Public Schools (Chelsea High School)	Bunker Hill Community College	April 2018
3	Holyoke Public Schools (Holyoke High School)	Holyoke Community College	April 2018
4	New Heights Charter School of Brockton	Massasoit Community College	April 2018
5	Salem Public Schools (Salem High School)	Salem State University	April 2018
6	Lawrence Public Schools (Lawrence High School)	Merrimack College	August 2018
7	Lawrence Public Schools (Lawrence High School)	Northern Essex Community College	August 2018
8	Holyoke Public Schools (Holyoke High School) Springfield Public Schools (High School of Commerce) Westfield Public Schools (Westfield High School and Westfield Technical Academy) *Roger L Putnam Vocational Technical Academy: Originally part of this Designation, but is no longer participating	Westfield State University	August 2018
9	Worcester Public Schools (Burncoat Senior High; Claremont Academy; Doherty Memorial High; North High; South High Community; University Park Campus; Worcester Technical High)	Worcester State University and Quinsigamond Community College	August 2018
10	Lowell Public Schools (Lowell High School)	Middlesex Community College	January 2019
11	Nashoba Valley Technical High School	Middlesex Community College	January 2019
12	Fitchburg Public Schools (Fitchburg High School) Gardner Public Schools (Gardner High School) Leominster Public Schools (Leominster High School) *Program also draws students from Leominster Center for Excellence and Center for Technical Education Innovation Sizer School	Fitchburg State University and Mount Wachusett Community College	April 2019
13	Framingham High School Milford Public Schools (Milford High School)	Framingham State University and Massachusetts Bay Community College	April 2019
14	Lynn Public Schools (Lynn Classical HS, Lynn English HS, Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, Fecteau Leary Alternative HS)	North Shore Community College	April 2019
15	Haverhill High School	Northern Essex Community College	April 2019
16	Marlborough High School	Quinsigamond Community College	April 2019
17	Boston (Madison Park Technical Vocational High School)	Bunker Hill Community College	April 2019
18	Somerville High School (Somerville Public Schools)	Cambridge College	June 2020
19	Lynn English High School (Lynn Public Schools)	Salem State University	June 2020
20	Lynn Classical High School (Lynn Public Schools)	Salem State University	June 2020
21	Hopkins Academy (Hadley Public Schools)	Greenfield Community College	June 2020
22	Durfee High School (Fall River Public Schools)	Bristol Community College	June 2020
23	Durfee High School (Fall River Public Schools)	Bridgewater State University	June 2020
24	NDanvers High School (Danvers Public Schools)	North Shore Community College	February 2021
25	Dearborn STEM Academy (Boston Public Schools)	Wentworth Institute of Technology	February 2021
26	Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School	Northern Essex Community College	February 2021
27	Gardner Academy for Learning and Technology (Gardner Public Schools)	Mt. Wachusett Community College	June 2021
28	High School of Commerce (Springfield Public Schools)	Springfield Technical Community College	June 2021
29	North Quincy High (Quincy Public Schools)	North Quincy High (Quincy Public Schools)	June 2021
30	Quincy High (Quincy Public Schools) College	Quincy High (Quincy Public Schools)	June 2021
31	Framingham State University and Massachusetts Bay Community College	Waltham High School (Waltham Public Schools)	June 2021

As of SY22-23, there are 31 MA Early College Designated Programs including 22 IHEs and 42 high schools designated. (Early College Programs designated SY23-24 coming soon.)

Last Updated: March 10, 2022

Massachusetts Early College Initiative