89. Increase access to early college high schools
Here’s what the federal government can do:
- Congress should appropriate funding for programs that address barriers to enrollment and improve student outcomes in early college high schools.
- The U.S. Department of Education should collect, conduct, and disseminate research on the enrollment of students of color at early college high schools.
- The U.S. Department of Education should provide guidance to states and local education agencies (LEAs) to ensure that students of color, English learners, students with disabilities, and students from families with lower incomes have access to early college high schools.
Here’s what state government can do:
- State legislatures should appropriate funding for programs that address barriers to enrollment and improve student outcomes in early college high schools.
Early college high schools offer students the opportunity to earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree or college credits simultaneously. These institutions provide students, often from underrepresented communities, with the opportunity to propel their transition into higher education. Studies have shown that early college programs are helpful for all students, but disproportionately so for Black and Latino students. [i]
[i]Zeiser, Kristina. “Evaluating the Impact of Early College High Schools.” AIR. https://www.air.org/project/evaluating-impact-early-college-high-schools.