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Gateway City students call for more Early College |
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Gateway City students flocked to Beacon Hill this week for Early College Day. Wide-eyed, the aspiring college graduates shared their many positive experiences in programs across the state. They also urged legislators to give more students access to this unique opportunity. Their message resonated warmly against the chilling backdrop of looming federal cuts to education funding. With education leaders fashioning the state’s first Early College expansion plan, it was also a timely call to action. |
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The MassINC Policy Center (MPC) recently released two reports to help draw attention to the strategic importance of the state’s Early College expansion plan. Above all, the new MPC research suggests that along with increasing access the state should prioritize building Early College programs that connect students to good jobs and provide them with opportunities to learn in diverse settings.
With the head start that Early College offers, MPC research shows these programs are ideally situated to help more students prepare for jobs in fields that require long sequences of difficult STEM coursework. From health to biotech, growing industries need more workers with advanced skills. Preparing these workers is crucial to economic development in Gateway City region’s that have historically had lower rates of college completion.
The ability to give high school students access to advanced coursework and training at local colleges and universities also offers Gateway City school districts a major competitive advantage. An Early College strategy should help urban high schools utilize this advantage to foster integration by attracting and retaining more middle-income residents. Building on Connecticut’s success in Hartford and New Haven, the state could also encourage the development of wall-to-wall Early College magnet high schools that enroll students from neighboring communities. Leveraging Early College in this manner will reduce harmful concentrations of poverty in urban schools, while giving more Massachusetts students opportunities to learn in diverse settings that reflect the workplace today.
Gateway City leaders first voiced support for Early College expansion a dozen years ago precisely because they believed it had exceptional power to prepare underrepresented students for good jobs, and because they knew high-quality Early College programs would help them grow more economically integrated neighborhoods and schools. When the state’s Early College plan is complete, Massachusetts will have goals and key performance metrics to provide accountability for the significant investment that the legislature is making in this initiative. It is essential that these benchmarks track the performance of programs with respect to giving students robust preparation for jobs in advanced fields and healthy opportunities to learn in racially, ethnically, and economically diverse classrooms.
Like a field thick with daffodils, Early College Day becomes a more beautiful harbinger of spring each year with programs expanding and larger numbers of students attending. The more diverse this field grows in the coming years, the more we will know for certain that Early College pathways are providing all students with sought-after learning experiences that are truly cutting-edge. |
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Double Release: Two new reports outline potential of Early College |
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The MassINC Policy Center is proud to release two new companion reports that explore Early College’s untapped potential to prepare students for careers in Massachusetts' knowledge economy:
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Early College Life Sciences Pathways outlines how state agencies, high schools, colleges, and industry leaders can collaborate to create pathways into one of the state’s key sectors.
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Opening the Doors to the Jobs of the Future proposes a strategy to expand Early College, ensuring more underserved students can access high-growth career opportunities while learning in diverse, integrated settings.
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Attend the Reclaiming Vacant Property Conference on April 8 in Springfield |
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We’re excited to invite you to the Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA. This gathering will bring together community leaders, policymakers, and practitioners to share ideas and strategies for transforming vacant properties into vibrant spaces to answer housing needs in Massachusetts.
This conference serves as a starting point for cities and towns to gain the knowledge and resources they need to tackle vacant properties in their communities. Whether you're facing challenges related to code violations or tax title issues, this event will outline practical solutions and highlight recent legal updates and tools, such as amendments to Massachusetts laws related to receivership and tax title foreclosure.
This year’s conference is presented in partnership with the MassMutual Foundation and co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC) and Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA). |
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EDUCATION |
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The Worcester Education Collaborative holds its 12th annual principal for a day gathering. |
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The Gateway Cities Innovation Institute strengthens connections across communities and helps Gateway City leaders advance a shared policy agenda. The Gateway Cities Journal is made possible with the support of our sponsors.
Email us to learn how to become a MassINC sponsor. |
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