Framingham State and MassBay Receive $600,000 Federal Grant to Expand Early College Opportunities in Waltham Public Schools

Framingham State and MassBay Receive $600,000 Federal Grant to Expand Early College Opportunities in Waltham Public Schools

Mar 15, 2022

The office of U.S. Congresswoman Katherine Clark has announced a federal appropriation of $600,000 to Framingham State University and MassBay Community College to expand its innovative MetroWest Scholars Early Start Program within Waltham Public Schools. 

The Early Start program is overseen by the MetroWest College Planning Collaborative, a joint initiative of Framingham State and MassBay. The program aims to reach low-income and underrepresented students and families starting in 8th grade, by exposing them to in-demand professional fields and career pathways, including business, sociology/criminology, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), and education. Students in the program are exposed to college level courses and earn real credit toward their college degree prior to graduating from high school.

"We are so grateful to Congresswoman Katherine Clark for her support of our efforts to expand Early College opportunities in Waltham Public Schools," says Framingham State President F. Javier Cevallos. "Early College programs are one of the best tools we have for improving outcomes and college going rates for underserved students and families."

"We thank Congresswoman Katherine Clark for her leadership and investment in the Early Start program," said MassBay President David Podell. "The Early College program has already proven itself in Framingham and Milford, giving students and their families a solid foundation to becoming life-longer learners, while building a career path. We are excited to broaden opportunities to teens in Waltham, ensuring those students have the support they need to succeed in college and beyond."

After early success with the program in Framingham and Milford Public Schools, the program is now expanding into the Waltham Public School system, which has a rapidly changing demographic. As housing prices in Boston increase, more and more lower income families are making their homes in Waltham. More than 50 percent of students at Waltham High are high need and 50 percent do not speak English as their first language. About 42 percent are low income, up from 20% just five years ago. Currently, 67% of graduates go to college, but only 30% complete.

The program will start by serving 60 students at the 8th grade level in Waltham and will scale up over five years to serving 300 students per year in 8th grade through senior year.

"The need for more early college programs in Waltham is clear," says Roxana Marrero, director of MetroWest Early College. "We have spent two years building a successful Early College program with Framingham and Milford high and we expect to scale a similar program at Waltham High."

About Framingham State University

Framingham State University was founded in 1839 as the nation’s first public university for the education of teachers. Since that time, it has evolved into a vibrant, comprehensive liberal arts institution offering small, personalized classes on a beautiful New England campus. Today, the University enrolls more than 6,000 students with 58 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, social sciences and professional fields. As a State College and University (SCU), Framingham State prides itself on quality academic programs, affordability, and commitment to access for all qualified students.