Massachusetts Early College Pathway and Innovation Pathways

Summer 2017

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What are Early College and Innovation Pathways?

Introduction to the Guiding Principles and Designation Criteria

Designation process Application, timeline, and expectations Roles of Early College Joint Committee (ECJC) and

Workforce Skills Cabinet (WSC)

Funding and other considerations

Post-designation implementation

Today’s Objectives

Different Students, Different Pathways, Positive Outcomes

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What are Early College and Innovation Pathways?

Early College (EC)

Through strategic partnerships with an institution of higher education, Early college programs are designed to blend elements of high school and college to provide students with the opportunity to experience and complete college level academic coursework (12 or more college credits) 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.

Innovation Pathways (IP)

Innovation Pathways are structures within our high schools that are designed to connect student learning to a broadly-defined industry sector that is in demand in the regional and state economy. Participation in this kind of pathway can lead students to opportunities for meaningful careers in that industry sector upon the completion of needed postsecondary education and training.

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Dual enrollment (called “dual credit” or “concurrent enrollment” in some states) is defined by Massachusetts statute as follows:

“A qualified student enrolled in a public secondary school may enroll as a student in Massachusetts public institutions of higher education. The student shall earn both secondary school and college credits. Students may enroll either full time or for individual courses.” (Mass. General Law. Chapter 15A, Section 39)

Early College is a program design that features dual enrollment as a component

Dual Enrollment vs. Early College?

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Prioritizes first-generation college-goers and students traditionally underrepresented in higher education

Lots of college credits – minimum of 12, often leading to an associate’s degree

Pathway as opposed to solely college course-taking

Robust system of supports at both high school and institution of higher education (IHE) towards completing a rigorous course of study

Early College

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Align with career opportunities in a broad industry sector category with high employer demand

Eligible industry sectors for this first year Manufacturing Information Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Health Care and Social Assistance

Students must complete 100 hours of a career immersion experience in either an internship or capstone class upon graduation.

Innovation Pathways

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Equitable Access▪ Prioritizing students underrepresented in higher ed▪ Eliminating barriers to student participation

Guided Academic Pathways▪ For EC, 12 credits toward postsecondary credential▪ For IP, at least 2 technical courses and 2 college

level courses ▪ College-level rigor and experience▪ Student-centered college and career planning

Enhanced Student Support▪ Wraparound services to promote success

and completion

Key Design Principles

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Connection to Career▪ Exposure to targeted pathway

opportunities intended to lead to careers

▪ For IP, 100 hour internship or capstonewith related quality indicators

Effective Partnerships▪ For EC, at least one institution of

higher education and one secondary school and/or district

▪ For IP, at least one district/secondary school and an employer, employer association or Workforce Dev. Board (with employer partner)

Key Design Principles (cont’d)

Massachusetts High Quality College & Career Pathways Preparing All Students for College and Career

High Quality Career Pathways (HQCCPs) must include the following six components:

All pathways are designed to promote equitable access by eliminating barriers to participation.

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Early College Joint Committee (ECJC) created; principles applied to Innovation Pathways by WSC

Ensure that as early college and innovation pathways expand within Massachusetts, the work will benefit from successful local and national models

Promote innovation in the development of these programs and to establish clear, coherent, and unifying expectations as to the most effective structures for them

Prioritize alleviating the barriers to success of new programs in Massachusetts

A new process for Massachusetts

The Goal of the Designation Process

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Two-part application process structured around five guiding principles Preliminary Designation Final Designation application

RFP for competitive grant application incorporated in Desig. Process Requirements of RFP are connected to Preliminary Designation process and Criteria Designation does not guarantee funding; grants will be awarded competitively to

approx. 10 applicants based on quality of responses to RFP section

Guiding Principles and Core Components are basis for application questions

Joint application/partnership between K-12 district and either institution of higher education (EC) or employer representative (IP)

Electronic submission, using WizeHive

ECJC approves final designations for EC, ESE for IP

Designation Process and Criteria

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Structured partnerships At least one IHE and one K-12 partner for EC; at

least one K-12 partner and employer representative for IP Must apply jointly Both partners will be held accountable together

for outcomes

Cohort program within a larger school, or an entire early college high school

Applicant Criteria

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The initial application determines whether the applicant receives Preliminary Designation, which would qualify them to submit a Final Designation Application.

Applicant must sufficiently address plans for each of the five guiding principles, according to specified criteria.

Key questions for consideration:Is the proposed program structured to eliminate barriers to student participation and designed to prioritize students underrepresented in higher education enrollment and completion? Does the program outline a clear academic pathway from secondary to post-secondary education and onto a career?Does the program identify academic and nonacademic challenges and supports for at-risk, first-generation students?Are career awareness and immersion activities included as an integral part of the early college program?Does the program propose robust and viable partnerships?

Two-stage process

Preliminary Designation Application

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September 8, 2017 Non-binding letter of intent due

September 27, 2017 Preliminary Designation Application and RFP submissions due

October Review Preliminary Designation Applications The RFP will be judged on impact and quality

By November 1– Preliminary Designations announced Applicants notified of possible funding and advance to Final

Designation phase

Key dates

Preliminary Designation Application

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Receiving a Preliminary Designation will allow the applicant to apply for a Final Designation.

Final Designation is also structured around the five guiding principles, with additional requirements to demonstrate evidence of effectiveimplementation. For example: Signed MOU(s) Developed policies Calendars of activities and schedules Staffing plans

The Final Designation indicates that a Program has completed all necessary requirements and is either already enrolled or is prepared to enroll students for the following academic year.

Two-stage process

Final Designation Application

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November/December Staff conduct Final Designation information sessions

February 2, 2018 – Final Designation Application due February – Final Designation Application review by staff

Early March 2018 ECJC convenes to review Final Designation Application summaries

and interagency working group recommendations for EC programs; Commission of ESE reviews recommendations for IP.

Final Designation conferred in March

Key dates

Final Designation Application

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Both the preliminary and final designation applications will be submitted electronically

We will be using an application portal for this purpose

Electronic Application

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Updated Designation Process – Timeline for Designation (AY2017-2018)

ESE/DHE/EOE post

Preliminary Designation

Application to website

July 31, 2017

ESE/DHE/EOE conduct

Preliminary Designation information

sessions

Aug 2017

Preliminary Designation Application

due

Sept. 27, 2017

ESE/DHE/EOE review

Preliminary Application

submissions and

determine whether or not

to provide Preliminary Designation

October

Program receives Final Early College Designation

Designation denied

March 2018

Pre

limin

ary

Pro

gram

App

rova

l Fi

nal P

rogr

am A

ppro

val

Final Designation Application

due

Feb. 2, 2018

ECJC meets

Reviews Final Designation Application summaries, determines

whether or not to provide

Final Designation

March 2018

Preliminary Designation

denied

Preliminary Designation

approved

Invited to submit Final Designation

Early Nov

ESE/DHE/EOE conduct Final Designation information

sessions

Provide technical

assistance to districts with Preliminary

approval

Nov/Dec

ESE/DHE/EOE review Final Designation Application

submissions and

summarize for ECJC

Feb. 2018

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An applicant that is awarded Preliminary Designation in the fall of 2018 is expected to apply for Final Designation by the beginning of Feb.2018

Programs achieving designation would be expected to launch in the fall of 2018

If applicants do not receive Final Designation in the spring of 2018 they may reapply in the next cycle, to being in the fall of 2018

Designation Timeline Notes

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5 years term length for the designation Designation is a performance contract Clear link between the performance metrics in the

MOU and the Commonwealth’s monitoring of performance Tied to renewal of a program’s designation

Annual reporting obligations Review/check-in after the first three years

Post-Designation: Implementation

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Ongoing support Convenings/Professional Learning

Communities Technical assistance from ESE, DHE

Oversight & evaluation Early College performance criteria Annual report Site visits

Post-Designation: Implementation (con’t)

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Applicants will have to assure funding Small amount of competitive funding for

AY2018-2019 (approx. 10 districts) Planning funds - November 2017 – June 30,

2018; Implementation funds - July 1, 2018 – June 30,

2019

EOE exploring sustainable funding source

How are the new Pathways funded?

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Cohort size Sustainability Cost-effectiveness

Scale relative to size of high school Collective bargaining How do you address this already?

Other Considerations

Q&A

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Innovation Pathways 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursdays: August 3 and August 10.

Early College Pathways 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. - Wednesday, August 2 1-2:30 p.m. - Monday, August 14.

For webinar info: http://bit.ly/2h5x1g0

Upcoming webinars

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DHE Christine Williams, Director of Strategic Initiatives

cwilliams@dhe.mass.edu, 617.994.6907

ESE Nyal Fuentes, College and Career Readiness Coordinator

nfuentes@doe.mass.edu, 781.338.3593 Jennifer Gwatkin, Early College Coordinator

jgwatkin@doe.mass.edu, 781.338.3954 Shailah Stewart, Coordinator, High School Pathway

Development, sstewart@doe.mass.edu, 781.338.3904

For further questions