On October 28, 2021, MassINC, the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, and Latinos for Education hosted a virtual forum celebrating the legislators, educators, and civic leaders powering the Early College movement.

Our program began with remarks from state leaders, including Commissioner of Higher Education, Carlos Santiago and Committee on Ways and Means co-chairs, Senator Michael Rodrigues and Representative Aaron Michlewitz. These leaders described the collaboration and unified commitment to Early College expansion taking hold across state government. Then we heard firsthand from the educators making it happen. Local leaders from Fall River, New Bedford, Lawrence, and Framingham described their strategies to provide high-quality Early College pathways to thousands of students across the Commonwealth, detailing both the successes they have had and the challenges they have faced as they expand access and deepen the work.

The program concluded with a short presentation from MassINC’s research director, Ben Forman. Ben gave us a preview of new estimates of public return on investment in community colleges, rigorously quantifying state underinvestment in the sector for the first time. Then Representative Jeff Roy closed with a call to action on the Early College bill moving through the legislature this session.

If you were unable to join us, you can still take in this important discussion. Watch the recording below and download the presentations outlining the innovative strategies poised to change the lives of thousands of Massachusetts students.

Watch the event recording

Download Presentations

Erika Giampietro- Early College Success

Colleen Coffey- Early College Growth and Success

Ben Forman- Community College Return on Investment