Revolutionizing Access: The Early College Model as a Lever for Educational Equity

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 4:15 pm - Gold 4
  In Roundtable Session: STEM, Motivation, and Pathways

Abstract

New Heights Charter School of Brockton (NHCSB) in Massachusetts, USA is an early college model (wall-to-wall) rooted in the belief of providing underrepresented students of color access to college courses while they are still in high school to fundamentally change their educational trajectories. The purpose of this exploratory case study included (a) investigating the impact of NHCSB on academic achievement and college course completion for underrepresented students of color (predominantly low-income, special education, and multilingual learners (MLLs) and (b) exploring defining traits of NHCSB’s model as compared to other early college programs in the state of Massachusetts. Findings reveal how NHCSB trailblazed an early college model that transform educational experiences and outcomes for underrepresented students of color.

Authors

• Yune Kim Tran, Providence College

• Jessica Geier, Providence College

• Omari Walker, New Heights Charter School Brockton