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 12^th 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