Malden legislators celebrate state grant for new Early College program at MHS

Special to The Advocate

State Senator Jason Lewis, State Representatives Paul Donato, Steven Ultrino and Kate Lipper-Garabedian and the City of Malden were excited to announce a $100,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to support Malden’s new Early College program partnership between Malden High School and Bunker Hill Community College, continuing the collaboration these schools have had for many years. In March the Healey-Driscoll administration approved this program for several high schools across the state, including Malden High School.

The Massachusetts Early College program gives students the opportunity to take college courses and earn credits at no cost before they graduate from high school. Early College allows students to get a head start on their higher education and contributes to significantly higher college enrollment and completion rates, particularly for low-income, minority and first-generation college students. This state grant will be used to build Malden’s Early College program in an equitable manner.

“I’m very excited that we are able to support Malden High School as they build their Early College program in partnership with Bunker Hill Community College,” said Senator Lewis. “The benefits of this program – especially for English learners, low-income students, and students of color – are significant, and will enable more Malden High graduates to go on to higher education.”

“I am thrilled to see the successful establishment of the Early College Program at Malden High School with the grant of $100,000,” said Representative Donato. “The ability to earn credits toward a higher education degree is a useful tool for our students to jumpstart their education beyond high school. Senator Lewis, Representative Ultrino, Representative Lipper-Garabedian, and I will continue to advocate for more opportunities to better the education and future of our young constituents of Malden.”

“As an educator myself, I understand first-hand how important it is to prepare our younger generation for their future careers and give them every opportunity possible to ensure success,” said Representative Ultrino. “Early College partnerships like this one will open many doors for young people in our community and I am excited to see more Malden students benefit from this program with Bunker Hill Community College.”

“I join the legislative delegation in celebrating Malden High School’s participation in the Early College program, a state initiative established by the Executive Office of Education while I served as Chief Legal Counsel,” said Representative Lipper-Garabedian. “Early college programs provide students, particularly low-income and first-to-college students, with opportunities to enroll in postsecondary courses and attain college credits while in high school. This session, I filed H1286, An Act relative to college in high school, which would codify this program in our general laws and establish a Massachusetts Office of College in High School, responsible for overseeing high school programs that expand student access to college and postsecondary opportunities. I am thrilled that Malden students, through the District’s partnership with Bunker Hill Community College, now will be able to access high-quality postsecondary coursework and realize greater college completion and career success through the Early College program.”

“The City of Malden has been a leader in Early College opportunities for our students for over a decade, and we are truly appreciative that the legislature has recognized that progress with a grant to help strengthen those successful partnerships in the Malden Public Schools for years to come,” said Malden Mayor Gary Christenson.