Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Early College Mvp topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Paula Bulger details expansion of Gardner High School's early college and vocational programs
Summary
At the March 9 Gardner School Committee meeting, college and career coordinator Paula Bulger outlined growth in the district's early college and MVP vocational tracks, citing 90 current early-college participants, five students on track to graduate with associate's degrees and a 98.5% pass rate in fall classes.
Paula Bulger, Gardner Public Schools'college and career readiness coordinator, told the Gardner School Committee on March 9 that the district's early college and MVP vocational programs are expanding and beginning to mirror district demographics.
Bulger said there are about 90 students in the early college program—56 seniors and 34 juniors—and that five seniors will graduate this year with full associate's degrees. "On average, the minimum typically, if they're in for two years, that they earn is 36 free credits," she said, and some students earn up to 60 credits depending on their track. She also reported a 98.5% pass rate for fall college-level classes, with only five failures that did not put students in academic jeopardy.
The coordinator described a recent shift from strict placement-test entry toward a "multiple measures" approach that includes course grades and teacher recommendations. "This is more equitable," Bulger said, arguing the change has increased access for first-generation students and other underrepresented groups.
Bulger also outlined MVP, the district's week-on/week-off vocational program in partnership with the local technical college. She reported 15 students currently enrolled (five seniors, 10 juniors) and gave a demographic snapshot she said reflects strong participation by low-income students and students with disabilities. She said selection for oversubscribed shops is done by a blind, trade-specific lottery and that the district reserves at least one MVP slot for students from Gardner Academy.
Bulger highlighted specific pathways: an automotive sequence with early certifications, a CNA cohort that prepares students to take the CNA exam, and in-house manufacturing with OSHA certification. She said feeder electives (for example, a half-year intro to auto tech) are intended to channel interest into the partner college's longer certificate and degree tracks.
Committee members asked about retention and how college-level course failures affect high-school standings. Bulger said failures appear on both college and high-school transcripts, and that staff place students on individualized academic plans and monitor scheduling to protect seniors'graduation prospects. On program access, she noted applications for both programs are open through March 20 and she is reviewing them.
Why it matters: The presentation shows Gardner is expanding dual-enrollment and career-technical pathways while trying to broaden access and preserve students'postsecondary options through hands-on certifications and transferable college credits. The committee asked several follow-up questions about funding for school-choice students, transferability of credits (especially nursing), and how early college interacts with AP offerings; Bulger said those tradeoffs are discussed with families during application review.
Next steps: Bulger will continue reviewing applications and sharing promotional materials; the district and its college partner are pursuing plumbing and other new shops for MVP.
