Early college high school
The Early College High Schools (ECHS) in the United States allow students to receive a high school diploma and an associate degree, or up to two years of college credit, by taking a mixture of high school and college classes. Designed for students traditionally underrepresented in college, the programs differ from dual enrollment, by the intentional supports provided to students. These supports help students to prepare to take dual credit classes while in high school and be ready for the rigorous college work after they graduate from high school.{{cite book
| last1 = Edmunds
| first1 = Julie
| author-link =
| last2 = Unlu
| first2 = Fatih
| last3 = Glennie
| first3 = Elizabeth
| last4 = Arshavsky
| first4 = Nina
| date = November 2022
| title = Early Colleges as a Model for Schooling: Creating New Pathways for Access to Higher Education
| url = https://hep.gse.harvard.edu/9781682537596/early-colleges-as-a-model-for-schooling/
| location = Cambridge, MA
| publisher = Harvard Education Press
| page =
| isbn = 9781682537596
}}
Different from dual enrollment, early colleges also provide pathways leading to some post-secondary credential (such as an associate degree or technical certificate) or transferable college credit.
There are different models of early college programs. Some early colleges are stand-alone small schools (whole school model), often located on a college campus, where all students are expected to participate in the program. Other early colleges are programs within comprehensive schools that enroll interested students.
History of Early Colleges
The first early college in the United States, Bard College at Simon's Rock, was founded in 1966.{{Cite web|url=https://www.k12academics.com/national-directories/gifted-school/bard-college-simons-rock|title=Bard College at Simon's Rock {{!}} K12 Academics|date=2018-02-24|website=www.k12academics.com|language=en|access-date=2018-08-17}}
In 1974, Middle College High School at LaGuardia Community College opened, serving high school students who were below grade level in reading or math.{{cite web
| url = https://mchslic.ss11.sharpschool.com/about/a_b_o_u_t_u_s
| title = Middle College High School at LaGuardia Community College
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| website = Middle College High School at LaGuardia Community College
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| access-date = June 15, 2024
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}} Over 25 middle colleges were established in the next two decades.
The Early College High School Initiative was established in 2002 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, along with the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Ford Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.{{cite web
| url = https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/gates-foundation-launches-40-million-early-college-initiative
| title = Gates Foundation Launches $40 Million Early College Initiative
| last =
| first =
| date = March 2002
| website = philanthropynewsdigest.org
| publisher =
| access-date = June 19, 2024
| quote =
| url = https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/media-center/press-releases/2004/12/strengthening-national-network-of-early-college-high-schools
| title = New Investments Expand and Strengthen National Network of Early College High Schools
| last =
| first =
| date = December 2004
| website = gatesfoundation.org
| publisher =
| access-date = June 19, 2024
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}} Over the past two decades, Early Colleges have expanded rapidly nationwide.
The initiative originally funded eight intermediary partners to establish and support early college schools and help establish partnerships between school districts and postsecondary institutions. Currently, a number of the intermediary organizations keep providing start-up and ongoing technical support, guidance, and professional development for their networks of schools. Among them are:
- Middle College National Consortium {{cite web
| url = https://mcnc.us/
| title = Middle College National Consortium
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| access-date = June 15, 2024
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- Center of Excellence for Leadership of Learning (CELL) at University of Indianapolis{{cite web
| url = https://cell.uindy.edu/
| title = Center of Excellence for Leadership of Learning (CELL)
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| access-date = June 15, 2024
}}
- Michigan Early Middle College Association (MEMCA){{cite web
| url = https://www.memca-michigan.org/what-is-memca
| title = Michigan Early Middle College Association (MEMCA)
| website =
| access-date = June 15, 2024
}}
- Gateway to College National Network{{cite web
| url = https://achievingthedream.org/gateway-to-college/
| title = Gateway to College National Network
| website =
| date = 25 April 2022
| access-date = June 15, 2024
}}
- Educate Texas{{cite web
| url = https://www.edtx.org/our-impact-areas/college-career-readiness/college-and-career-readiness-models/early-college-high-schools
| title = Educate Texas at Communities Foundation of Texas
| website =
| date = 11 June 2024
| access-date = June 15, 2024
}}
- RTI International{{cite web
| url = https://educationservices.rti.org/early-college-network/
| title = Early College Network at the Center for Educational Services, RTI International
| website =
| access-date = June 15, 2024
}}
In 2024, there were more than 1,200 early college programs in the United States.{{cite web
| url = https://www.air.org/project/evaluating-impact-early-college-high-schools
| title = Evaluating the Impact of Early College High Schools
| last =
| first =
| date = 18 March 2024
| website = American Institutes of Research
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| access-date = June 15, 2024
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}}
Research on Early College High Schools
Two Randomized Control Trials of the Early College High Schools were conducted by the teams at the Early College Research Center {{Cite web|url=https://earlycollegeresearch.uncg.edu/|title = Early College Research Center|language=en|access-date=June 15, 2024}} at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (2006 - ongoing) and the American Institutes for Research (2010-2013 and 2021- 2024). {{cite web
| url = https://www.air.org/project/evaluating-impact-early-college-high-schools
| title = Evaluating the Impact of Early College High Schools
| last =
| first =
| date = 18 March 2024
| website = American Institutes of Research
| publisher =
| access-date = June 15, 2024
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}}
These studies found multiple positive impacts of early colleges on their students, which included:
- Early college students were more likely to successfully complete a college preparatory course of study than students in the control group{{cite journal
| last1 = Edmunds
| first1 = J.A.
| author-link =
| last2 = Bernstein
| first2 = L.
| last3 = Unlu
| first3 = F.
| last4 = Glennie
| first4 = E.
| last5 = Willse
| first5 = J.
| last6 = Smith
| first6 = A.
| last7 = Arshavsky
| first7 = N.
| title = Expanding the start of the college pipeline: Ninth-grade findings from an experimental study of the impact of the Early College High School Model.
| journal = Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness.
| volume = 5
| issue = 2
| pages = 136–159
| date = 2012
| language =
| url = http://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncg/f/J_Edmunds_Expanding_2012.pdf
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| doi = 10.1080/19345747.2012.656182
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- Early college students had higher attendance, fewer suspensions, and were more likely to graduate from high school
- Early college students enrolled in postsecondary education at higher rates
- Early college students received postsecondary credentials at a higher rate than control students.{{cite journal
| last1 = Edmunds
| first1 = J.A.
| author-link =
| last2 = Unlu
| first2 = F.
| last3 = Furey
| first3 = J.
| last4 = Glennie
| first4 = E.
| last5 = Arshavsky
| first5 = N.
| title = What happens when you combine high school and college? The impact of the early college model on postsecondary performance and completion.
| journal = Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis
| volume = 42
| issue = 2
| pages = 257–278
| date = 2020
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| doi = 10.3102/0162373720912249
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See also
References
;Notes
{{reflist}}
;Bibliography
- {{cite web |url=http://www.jff.org/sites/default/files/publications/Unconventional_Wisdom_PDF_033011.pdf |title=Unconventional Wisdom: A Profile of the Graduates of Early College High School |first1=Michael |last1=Webb |first2=Lia |last2=Mayka |date=March 2011 |work=Jobs for the Future |access-date=July 29, 2014}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/2010/06/13/america-s-best-high-schools-in-a-different-class.html |title=America's Best High Schools in a Different Class |work=Newsweek |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119122403/http://www.newsweek.com/2010/06/13/america-s-best-high-schools-in-a-different-class.html |archive-date=January 19, 2011 }}
- {{cite web |url= http://www.newsweek.com/nations-most-elite-public-high-schools-73623?piano_t=1 |title=The Nation's Most Elite Public High Schools |first=Jay |last=Mathews |work=Newsweek |date=July 13, 2010 |access-date=July 29, 2014}}
External links
- [http://www.air.org/project/evaluation-early-college-high-school-initiative/ ECHSI evaluation reports] by the American Institutes for Research
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