Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini, HHS Early College Graduates Kayleigh Bergh and Jocelyn Dubois, Haverhill Superintendent James Scully, State Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives, and NECC President Lane Glenn at an Early College graduation in January of 2015.

This year, four local high schools will be able to continue to participate in Early College Programs in partnership with Northern Essex Community College, thanks to $250,000 which was included in the state budget by State Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives.

Students from Amesbury, Newburyport, Haverhill, and Methuen high schools will benefit from the funding, which will cover teaching costs as well as scholarships.

Students in Early College Programs earn both college and high school credits for courses taken during high school. Courses are team-taught at partner high schools by college professors and high school teachers, and include classes such as U.S. History I, American Literature I, and First Year Seminar. Students graduate from high school with an average of 21 Northern Essex college credits which can be transferred to other colleges and universities.

Early College Programs are designed to raise college readiness skills and college completion rates, according to Dr. Noemi Custodia-Lora, who oversees K-12 partnerships for Northern Essex. “Students who participate in Early College Programs learn the skills needed to succeed in college while in high school.”

Northern Essex President Lane Glenn has been helping to create Early College programs between community colleges and high schools for more than a decade.  “I have seen the benefits of these experiences for students, families, and communities,” said Glenn.  “Students are better prepared for college and more successful when they get there, families save a lot of money, and communities have a better educated workforce.  It’s a win-win-win.”

“The Early College Program is a great opportunity for high school students to take college level courses and gain experience in college readiness, while reducing future college costs for students and their parents,” said State Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives. “In the last three state budget cycles, I’ve secured this funding for my constituents in the Merrimack Valley because interest in the Early College Program is growing–making supplemental funding that much more important,” added O’Connor Ives.

Northern Essex partners with many local high schools, offering programs like the Early College Program, which are designed to be sure students are prepared to succeed in college. In addition to the four high schools that received the recent funding, Northern Essex has partnerships with Pentucket Regional High School; Triton Regional High School; Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School; Lawrence High School; Phoenix Academy, Lawrence; High School Learning Center, Lawrence; Notre Dame Cristo Rey, Lawrence; Sanborn Regional High School, and Timberlane Regional High School.

For more information, contact Custodia-Lora, ncustodialora@necc.mass.edu.