We’ve previously discussed the significant gaps in access to postsecondary education, particularly among non-white and low-income students. It should come as no surprise that postsecondary institutions can be prohibitively expensive to attend, especially for the approximate four years that it takes to earn a degree. Between the cost and time it takes to earn a degree from a postsecondary institution along with the gap of accessibility to career exploration opportunities, it’s no wonder that only 44% of first-time bachelor’s degree recipients complete their degree in four years or less, and for nearly 36%, the time to completion ranges from five to ten years.
While a degree is not the only viable path to success, for those who choose to pursue this path, organizations like Britebound’s grantees, the Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology and Massachusetts Alliance for Early College, are working to provide increased access to early college programs and classes. These programs help young people, particularly those from underserved and underrepresented communities, ensure that they are not choosing postsecondary education blindly, but that it is linked to their personal interests and goals.
Both of these organizations work to provide the foundation for college and career success at no cost to students and parents. Keep reading to learn more about their work:
Setting Up Underserved Populations for Success
With a gap in accessibility to postsecondary education opportunities for underserved populations, how do we create a more equitable future for the younger generations?
Early college programs provide students with the chance to attend free courses in a college environment, without the hassle of applications. Classes take place during the school day and students receive academic and guidance support to help them thrive in a rigorous college environment. Learners’ classes also align to potential career pathways, allowing opportunities to engage in career readiness education and prepare for the working world after graduation. The results? High schoolers graduate having earned a significant amount of college credits, resulting in a lower cost and less time needed to complete their degree.
The Massachusetts Alliance for Early College is empowering students to work alongside a coalition of education, business, and community leaders to advocate to their local and state government for more and easier access to early college programming for high schoolers.
“We’re so grateful to be partnered with Britebound in our effort to scale high-quality Early College opportunities, and to support students to feel empowered as leaders in the movement to bring these life-changing programs to thousands of their peers across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.” — Erika Giampietro, Executive Director, Massachusetts Alliance for Early College.
With the grant from Britebound, the Massachusetts Alliance for Early College is working to close a quarter of the state’s college success equity gap by scaling access to high-quality Early College programs to serve 45,000 students.
Getting a Head Start
In addition to increasing access to higher education, other benefits of early college include allowing students to gain familiarity with the workload and how college classes function and that learners can finish their degree early and enter the workforce before many of their peers.
At the Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology (more commonly known as Franklin Cummings Tech), the Early College program provides high schoolers with access to college and career readiness opportunities. Students are able to choose one of two programs that aligns with their goals: the Advance Standing Associates Program (ASAP) and the Dual Enrollment Program and Bootcamps. Both programs allow students to earn college credit before they even graduate high school.
In addition to earning college credit, students also receive access to career services, health and wellness support, and mentoring. Depending on how many courses they’ve completed, learners can graduate already having finished their freshman year of college, and can even enroll at Franklin Cummings Tech as a sophomore.
“The most successful postsecondary pathways to a fulfilling career that results in economic security and advancement begin in middle and high school. We are grateful to Britebound for this generous grant that will strengthen our Early College program, which provides Boston area high school students with early career exposure, college readiness, and initial training in thriving tech fields." — Dr. Aisha Francis, President and CEO of Franklin Cummings Tech.
The funding from Britebound’s grant will support the Early College program in Boston, which focuses on career pathways in the Automotive Technology, Computer Information Technology, Engineering Technology, and Opticianry fields.
Britebound is proud to support organizations that work to provide accessible early college opportunities to young people. By giving learners the chance to get a jump start on their college education, both Massachusetts Alliance for Early College and the Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology are making college a more accessible and affordable option, leading to a more equitable future for our young people.
