Evaluation of the Massachusetts Early College Incubator Grant Program
As Massachusetts and other states work to expand college access and help more students earn college credit in high school, Early College has emerged as a promising strategy for improving educational and workforce opportunities.
The Massachusetts Early College Incubator Grant program was designed to test innovative approaches that could broaden access to Early College, especially for students historically underrepresented in higher education, and inform future state policy.
Oshin Khachikian
Researcher
An unexpected but key finding that stayed with me most was that after graduating high school, many students who earned college credit through these Early College courses went on to enroll at a different college than the one where they first earned those credit during high school. That really underscores an important challenge for Early College and dual enrollment programs: It’s not enough to help students earn college credit—we also have to make sure those credits can travel with them and continue to support their goals.
Oshin Khachikian
Researcher
AIR evaluated the program to understand how these new models were implemented, who they reached, and what they can teach the field about expanding high-quality Early College opportunities. The evaluation examined innovations such as online course delivery, consortium-based partnerships, and Early College experiences offered on college campuses and in community-based settings.
Findings showed that the initiative helped extend Early College to new schools and communities and reached growing numbers of students. The study also highlighted important considerations for future work, including the need for strong partnerships, implementation support, and policies that help students transfer and apply the college credits they earn after high school.
