Students and Community College officials tell Vermont commerce committee early college expands access, workforce pathways

Students enrolled in the Early College program and representatives from the Community College of Vermont (CCV) told the Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on April 2, 2025, that the program expands access to post‑secondary credentials, supports work and family responsibilities and helps develop local workforce pipelines such as early‑childhood care.

CCV participation and demographics: A CCV representative told the committee that CCV has about 240 Early College students in the current year, representing roughly 6% of Vermont high school students who are engaged in Early College statewide (as the representative described it). The CCV representative said more than 50% of CCV’s Early College students this year are low‑income, more than 50% are first‑generation college students, and about 18% identify as people of color.

Student experiences: Multiple students described why they chose Early College and what they gained. Savannah Lafontaine of Essex said she had one high‑school course left and chose Early College, completed an associate degree in early‑childhood education and now works as a substitute teacher. A student who identified as Jada from Vernon said she used the program’s flexibility to work full time in a memory‑care unit and to train as a junior firefighter, and she emphasized that Early College reduced the financial burden of post‑secondary education for her family.

Access and extracurriculars: Students and committee members discussed continuity with home high schools. Students said they can participate in extracurriculars, athletics and graduation activities at their sending high schools while completing academic work through CCV, which committee members described as important to social continuity for some students.

Workforce and policy context: Committee members asked about early‑childhood workforce concerns, pay and program capacity. Several students pursuing early‑childhood education told the committee that compensation in early‑childhood roles is low and that family demand for childcare exceeds local supply; they described pay compression and wait lists at centers in their communities. The CCV representative highlighted that many Early College students continue their education in Vermont, which the representative described as a positive outcome for local employers and the state workforce.

Next steps: The committee thanked students and CCV staff and indicated the testimony would be available for further consideration. No formal committee action on the Early College program was recorded during this session.