Investment will allow thousands more students to participate, especially in rural communities and Gateway Cities
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today that it is awarding $8 million in designated Early College grants to allow high school students to take college classes and earn college credit at no cost to them or their families. These funds will be used to support schools and higher education institutions as they design new Early College programs, as well as expand existing programs to provide an estimated additional 2,300 seats, increase staffing and recruitment, and provide professional development. 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 high school.
“Early College programs are great for our students and great for our economy. They allow students to get college credit while they’re still in high school at no cost, making it more affordable for them to get their degree and preparing them to succeed in their careers,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We’re also strengthening our workforce by helping students graduate with the skills that are in demand by employers today. We’re proud to be expanding Early College to more schools than ever.”
“Designated Early College programs have been especially meaningful in Gateway Cities, rural communities and other districts that serve large numbers of potential first-generation college students,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “I’m pleased to see continued interest from districts and colleges in expanding existing programs and adding new ones.”
“We know that high school students are looking for more relevant learning experiences with deeper engagement. They want to see the connection between what they learn during the school day and a career or field they might be interested in pursuing down the line. That’s why this administration has been focused on reimagining high school,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “Early college programs are an essential part of this initiative, making the pathway to higher education more seamless.”
The administration continues to expand designated Early College programs, increasing the number of students participating by nearly 2,000 since school year 2022-2023, a 31 percent increase. Further, the administration designated 16 new Early College program partnerships over the last two years. Over 9,000 students are expected to be supported this school year.
Massachusetts prioritizes participation by students historically underrepresented in higher education. The state’s 12th grade early college participants are majority Black and Latino and evenly split between low-income and non-low-income students. Early college participation increases college enrollment for all racial groups, but makes the biggest difference for Latino students who historically have been the least likely to matriculate to college.
“Designated Early College programming is a proven strategy to increase college enrollment and persistence,” Elementary and Secondary Education Acting Commissioner Russell D. Johnston said. “These programs provide the supports necessary to help students succeed in a college environment. We are thrilled with the Healey-Driscoll Administration's continued investment in this important initiative.”
“Early college helps students see that college is for them, prepares them to succeed, and reduces the cost and time to degree,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “We’re grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for supporting the growth and strength of Early College, which helps advance Massachusetts’ higher education equity goals.”
The grant recipients are as follows:
Early College Support Grant Awardees
All 55 existing designated Early College programs received $50,000 to $125,000 to continue their work.
Early College Capacity Grant Awardees, received $60,000 each:
Argosy Collegiate Charter School (Fall River)
Bard College at Simon's Rock (Great Barrington)
Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology (Boston)
Bridgewater State University
Bunker Hill Community College
Framingham State University
Middlesex Community College
New Heights Charter School of Brockton
North Shore Community College
Northern Essex Community College
Quincy Public Schools
Revere Public Schools
Salem State University
Springfield Public Schools
Springfield Technical Community College
UMass Boston
Waltham Public Schools
Westfield Public Schools
Early College Planning Grant Awardees:
Randolph High School and Bridgewater State University: $150,000
Billerica Public Schools and UMass Commonwealth Collegiate Academy (CCA): $100,000
Brockton Public Schools and UMass CCA: $100,000
CityLab Innovation High School (Revere) and Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology (Boston): $100,000
Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann Charter Public School (Boston) and Bunker Hill Community College: $100,000
B.M.C. Durfee High School (Fall River) and UMass CCA: $100,000
Greater Lowell Technical High School and UMass CCA: $100,000
Margarita Muñiz Academy (Boston) and UMass Boston: $100,000
TechBoston Academy and UMass Boston: $100,000
Taunton Public Schools and UMass CCA: $94,068
Argosy Collegiate Charter School (Fall River) and UMass CCA: $93,528
Methuen High School and UMass Lowell CCA: $90,789
Woburn High School and UMass CCA: $69,448
Dracut Public Schools and UMass CCA: $68,908
Putnam High School (Springfield) and Westfield State University: $51,711
Springfield High School of Science and Technology and Westfield State University: $51,514
Granby, Easthampton and Hadley public school districts and UMass CCA: $51,445
The Springfield Renaissance School and UMass CCA: $51,442
Martha's Vineyard Regional High School and Middlesex Community College: $50,000
New Bedford High School and UMass CCA: $50,000
Pittsfield High School and Berkshire Community College: $50,000
Shawsheen Valley Technical High School (Billerica) and Middlesex Community College: $50,000
Taconic High School (Pittsfield) and Berkshire Community College: $50,000
Albert D. Holland High School of Technology (Boston) and UMass Boston: $50,000
Bourne High School and Massachusetts Maritime Academy: $50,000
Early College Multilingual Program (Boston) and Roxbury Community College: $50,000
Wachusett Regional High School and Worcester State University: $50,000
Mansfield High School and Bristol Community College: $50,000
Oliver Ames High School (Easton) and Bristol Community College/Quincy College: $50,000
David Prouty High School (Spencer) and Worcester State University: $40,400
Chelmsford High School and Middlesex Community College: $26,300
Putnam Vocational Technical Academy and UMass Amherst: $26,262