Teachers urge Senate to reconsider early college program, cite lost senior-year leadership
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Multiple teachers told the Senate Education Committee that full-time early college enrollment can hollow out the senior year and disadvantage lower-income students; witnesses asked lawmakers to repeal or rework early college and expand dual enrollment, citing H.779 as a possible vehicle.
Helen Sullivan, a social studies teacher at Montpelier High School, told the committee that early college enrollment is draining leadership and community from high schools. "There is enough pressure on kids to grow up fast already," she said, and described 16 seniors attending early college this year at her school. She asked the committee to "repeal or at least make a plan to seriously reevaluate the early college program" and recommended support for H.779, a bill she said would repeal early college, expand dual enrollment and create a study group to examine college-level offerings for high school students.
Why it matters: Witnesses said early college (full-time college enrollment) removes students from high school communities, can disadvantage lower-income students who still face activity fees and transportation burdens, and may reduce enrollment in AP and upper-level high school offerings, with cascading effects on remaining students and activities.
Committee members and other testifiers discussed how early college differs from dual enrollment. Testifiers described early college students as technically unenrolled from high school while taking a full college course load; dual enrollment allows students to remain enrolled in high school and mix classes. Under the current flexible pathways law, students can take two dual-enrollment courses; witnesses said recent proposals would expand eligibility to four.
Eric Hutchins, a social studies teacher at Amalie High School, shared a cautionary example of a bright student who spent his senior year isolated while enrolled full time at a community college: "This student spent his whole senior year in his bedroom," he said, adding that the student later reported dissatisfaction with online coursework. Hutchins and others urged the committee to consider evidence-based alternatives and to consult the redistricting task force report cited by witnesses when considering statewide graduation and consolidation policies.
No formal legislative action occurred during the hearing; sponsors and committee staff may link testimony to pending bills, including H.779 and other education measures, for future consideration.