CHELSEA – Senator Michael O. Moore (D-Millbury) attended a roundtable discussion with Governor Charlie Baker, top state education officials, students and staff at Chelsea High School regarding early college programs. Senator Moore, who serves as Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Education, has long advocated for expanded early college opportunities in the Commonwealth.
“The Early College Initiative is helping thousands of Massachusetts students achieve college completion and career success,” said Senator Moore. “It was fantastic to speak with students and staff about the program, and the difference it is making to provide students with the opportunity to pursue their educational and career goals.”
Early college programs combine traditional high school courses with opportunities to earn college credits at a public college or university. The ultimate goal of these programs is to make college more accessible, particularly for low-income students, by providing students the opportunity to earn college credits during high school at no cost. Studies have consistently shown that early college programs have boosted college completion rates and have reduced barriers to accessing a college education.
Senator Moore has filed legislation that would direct state agencies to establish and administer an early college education program to increase post-secondary completion rates and participation in career pathways. This past spring, the state awarded official designation status and grant funding to nine early college programs across the state, including Worcester, giving students the opportunity to better prepare for college.
The state continues to pursue efforts to significantly increase the number of early college seats available to high school students. Currently, there are more than two thousand students already enrolled in early college programs in the Commonwealth.
