Bard Early College director asks Taconic Hills to expand junior access, touts high college‑credit yields

Matt Park, director of Bard Early College Hudson Valley, told the Taconic Hills board that students who complete Bard’s early‑college program earn substantial college credits and strong postsecondary outcomes. “Since I took over in 2021, it’s been three seniors this year and this is the first year we actually have four seniors,” Park said as he reviewed participation from Taconic Hills.

Park said Bard is now taking a new step to support early‑college students who later attend Bard: a guarantee to meet full demonstrated financial need for students who matriculate to Bard College after the early‑college program. He asked the board to consider permitting juniors to enroll so Taconic students could earn additional college credits earlier in high school.

Students who attend Bard spoke to the board about the classroom environment and college‑level work. Aurora Anderson, a first‑year Bard student, said the small classes and close faculty support make the program feel “nourishing” and encourage student growth. Another student described how the college‑experience class simplified the admissions and FAFSA process.

Why it matters: Board members noted that historically Taconic Hills has sent primarily seniors to the program and asked about barriers to junior participation. Staff said capacity and student interest have limited earlier enrollment but indicated the district will continue discussions with Bard about increasing slots and on‑campus options.

Next steps: The board asked administrators to follow up with Bard and Questar staff to explore options for expanding access and to return with data on past participation and potential demand if juniors are allowed to apply.