Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Early College topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Support grows for Early College expansion as advocates cite large unmet demand
Summary
Early‑college advocates asked lawmakers to add $3 million in FY26 to continue a fast‑growing program that allows high‑school students to earn college credits; early‑college leaders said enrollment doubled and demand outpaced available seats in the latest application cycle.
Lede: Supporters of early college urged the Joint Committee on Ways and Means to boost FY26 funding by $3 million, arguing the program is evidence‑based, boosts college persistence and faces a surge of demand from schools and students.
Nut graf: The Massachusetts Alliance for Early College told the committee that early college enrollment has grown rapidly—roughly 9,000 students across the state—and that the program’s outcomes indicate higher sustained college enrollment; supporters asked for an increase to $31.25 million to meet projected growth and capacity needs.
Body: The alliance said early college more than doubled participating students’ odds of sustained college enrollment in program evaluations. Executive Director Bridal Giampietro noted 40 applications in the latest designation round—many more than the state can accommodate—and asked lawmakers to earmark a $3 million increase in FY26 to serve more students. She and other witnesses asked that funding be structured across existing line items for dual enrollment and early college program grants to match projected need.
Lawmakers asked about higher‑education capacity and transfer of credits; Department of Higher Education officials and campus leaders said work is underway to remove credit‑transfer barriers and to identify capacity strategies, including consortia arrangements among colleges. Business and K‑12 witnesses said stronger early‑college pipelines would help fill near‑term workforce gaps by enabling students to gain skills and credentials while still in high school.
Ending: The committee asked the alliance and DHE for follow‑up details on projected enrollment growth, college capacity strategies and a line‑item plan for the requested $3 million increase in FY26. Early‑college leaders said they would provide a spending breakdown and risk‑mitigation plan for growth.
