Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Early College topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pittsfield High aims to launch Early College pathway with Berkshire Community College this fall
Summary
District officials told the committee Pittsfield High School has applied with Berkshire Community College for Early College designation; if approved PHS students could earn up to 15 college credits and a pathway will target underrepresented students.
Pittsfield — Pittsfield Public Schools told the School Committee on Feb. 26 that Pittsfield High School has submitted parts A and B of an Early College designation application with Berkshire Community College and anticipates beginning the program in fall 2025 if the state awards the designation.
Assistant Superintendent Ms. Gage said the district submitted Part A of the Early College application in September and planned to submit Part B with Berkshire Community College the week of the Feb. 26 meeting. The district previously applied for a planning grant and received $100,000 to plan early college pathways for both Pittsfield High School and Taconic High School; the Taconic application is still in development and is expected next year.
Under the proposed plan, Pittsfield High students could earn up to 15 college credits before graduating. The early college pathway is intentionally designed to reach underrepresented students who may need additional supports, onboarding and wraparound services to succeed in college-level work, district staff said. Courses will be a hybrid model: taught by Pittsfield High teachers, by BCC faculty on campus, and possibly online.
District staff said PHS and BCC faculty will align course content over the spring if the designation is awarded in March. If approved, the district will launch an outreach campaign inviting families to learn about the pathway. Assistant Superintendent Gage said Massachusetts has 28 higher-education institutions and 62 high schools with Early College designation; Pittsfield would be among a relatively small group of districts with such a program.
No firm enrollment targets or budget figures for the first year were presented at the Feb. 26 meeting; staff said course alignment and outreach plans will follow designation. Taconic High School remains in planning for a future application.
Committee members thanked staff and noted the program’s potential to increase college enrollment for students, particularly those historically underrepresented in college coursework.
