Early College is an innovative, proven program that is breaking down barriers to college and putting students on pathways to careers. 

MBAE is a founding member of the Massachusetts Alliance for Early College (MA4EC), a cross-sector coalition focused on dramatically increasing the number of students with access to high-quality Early College in Massachusetts. Visit the MA4EC website to learn more about their work.

 

The FY23 Budget Recommendation

To continue to expand access to Early College opportunities, MBAE supports a state budget increase for FY23. Specifically, we are advocating for $19 million across two-line items:

  • $9M in the Dual Enrollment Grant and Subsidies, or “CDEP”, line item (7066-0019), $8M of which is for Early College, consistent with the recommendations of the Board of Higher Education and the Early College Joint Committee to fund credit reimbursements for the state’s Higher Education Institutions.
  • $10M in the Early College line item (7009-6600) which is used to stimulate growth and quality via planning, implementation and growth grants, and program support and review. 

If you have any questions about the ask or about Early College, please contact MBAE’s policy director James Mikolowsky.

What is Early College?

Early College can double the college degree attainment rate for students of color and students from low income homes. At a scale of 45,000 students, this will close a quarter of the statewide college success equity gap by race and income, and benefit thousands of students beyond that.

Achieving this vision will result in an educated and diverse workforce pipeline that our economy needs and put students on paths to upward economic mobility.

In Early College, high school students take real college classes during their regular high school day, at no cost to themselves or their families. With enhanced academic and guidance support, students graduate from high school with college credits, saving them and their families time and money.

Early College programs emphasize career readiness, so students graduate high school with the confidence, habits and skills they need to be successful in both college and career.