Strategic Initiatives
The purpose of the Early College Initiative is to create and maintain partnerships connecting our state’s districts and high schools with our state’s colleges in order to give thousands of Massachusetts students, especially first-generation college-goers, access to college completion and career success.
Christine Williams
Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Initiatives
(617) 599-7504
cwilliams@dhe.mass.edu
2017 – Present
Joint BHE & BESE Resolution
Application Criteria for Early College Program Designation
COVID-19 EC CDEP FAQs
Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
The vision of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (BHE) and Board of Elementary & Secondary Education (BESE) is for growth and sustainability of high-quality early college partnerships connecting our state’s districts and high schools with our state’s colleges. These partnerships will all be aimed at giving thousands of Massachusetts students, especially first-generation college-goers, access to college completion and career success.
Early College programs are intentionally designed to empower students traditionally underrepresented in higher education. MA Early College Designated Programs work to blend elements of high school and college to provide students with the opportunity to experience and complete college level academic coursework on a clearly articulated pathway and simultaneously gain exposure to a variety of career opportunities. Early college programs also reduce the time and expense of earning a college credential while increasing the likelihood of completion.
In 2016, the Boards of Higher Education and Elementary and Secondary Education looked at whether the state could devise an early college strategy. They commissioned a study, done by Parthenon-EY Education Practice, to look at the potential for the development of Early College in Massachusetts The report confirmed that Early College is a promising model that narrows educational opportunity gaps, and that existing programs would provide a powerful base from which to build a broader statewide Early College initiative. Following these findings in January 2017, the boards of Elementary and Secondary Education and Higher Education jointly launched an initiative intended to support the expansion of Early College and establish an Early College Designation. The boards also created an Early College Joint Committee (ECJC), charged with developing the Early College Designation Process for the Commonwealth.
Early College Program Designation Application Companion Document 2022 >
This companion document is designed to provide important information on the Designation process and requirements, as well as context for the criteria to be met under each of the five Guiding Principles.
Designation Readiness Checklist >
The Early College Readiness Checklist is a resource for prospective Early College partners to guide their pre-planning for the Designation application process.
| Design Plan Process Timeline | Date |
|---|---|
| Professional Learning (PL) Session #1: Partnering for Equitable Access (GP 1&5) | August 18, 2026 |
| Workshop – coaching support for session #1 | September 1, 2026 |
| PL Session #2: Scaffolded Pathways for Success - Guiding Principles 2 & 4 | September 15, 2026 |
| Workshop – coaching support for session #2 | September 29, 2026 |
| Professional Learning Session #3: Supporting Every Student (GP 3) | October 13, 2026 |
| Workshop – coaching support for session #3 | October 27, 2026 |
| Professional Learning Session #4: Evaluation and Systems for Results (GP 5) | November 10, 2026 |
| Workshop – coaching support for session #4 | November 17, 2026 |
| Webinar: Are you Ready to Submit | December 1, 2026 |
| Program Design Plans Due | January 8, 2027 |
| Program Design Plan Approvals | March 2027 (June as needed) |
Additional Resource: NS4Ed, in partnership with the MA Early College staff, has created a resource site to support the Early College community of practice. Visit www.MAEarlyCollege.com to learn more.
If you are seeking additional information on Early College, please contact the Early College Program Director at Kristin.Hunt@doe.mass.edu
Please check this page regularly for updates.
The Early College Joint Committee is charged with designing, developing and coordinating the administration of a Massachusetts early college program based on the process and key design principles set forth in the joint resolution 
of the Boards of Elementary & Secondary Education and Higher Education, approved at their joint meeting on January 24, 2017.
Under the Early College Designation put forth by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (BHE) and Board of Elementary & Secondary Education (BESE), approved designated early college programs in Massachusetts will align with the following design principles:
targeting underrepresented students in higher education
through workplace and experiential learning experiences
that are well integrated and aligned with college and career
between high schools and colleges
in both academics and advising
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