Early and Middle Colleges: Best Practices Meghan Nyeste – Oakland University Benjamin Brown – Michigan State University Meghan Nyeste – Oakland University Benjamin Brown – Michigan State University

Overview & Goals  Open dialogue  Define early and middle colleges  Understand the history of these programs  Identify challenges and benefits for students and institutions  Future of the programs  How MACRAO can assist  Open dialogue  Define early and middle colleges  Understand the history of these programs  Identify challenges and benefits for students and institutions  Future of the programs  How MACRAO can assist

Quick Poll An early/middle college program is… A.An accelerated program for high-achieving students B.An incentive for schools to make money C.For traditionally under-represented populations D.A way to increase the number of people in Michigan with a college degree An early/middle college program is… A.An accelerated program for high-achieving students B.An incentive for schools to make money C.For traditionally under-represented populations D.A way to increase the number of people in Michigan with a college degree

Definition and History  Early College High School Initiative  2002 – Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation  North Carolina holds 1/3 of all programs  Only 3 Michigan programs fall into this category  Middle College  A 5-year educational program  Early College High School Initiative  2002 – Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation  North Carolina holds 1/3 of all programs  Only 3 Michigan programs fall into this category  Middle College  A 5-year educational program

JFF Early College Design Features  Aligned curricula and instruction  Personalization and student supports  Power of place  College Credit  Partnerships  Aligned curricula and instruction  Personalization and student supports  Power of place  College Credit  Partnerships

Definition and History, cont.  National Alliance for Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP)  “Provides high school students the opportunity to take college-credit bearing courses taught by college- approved high school teachers”  “Sole Accrediting body for concurrent enrollment partnerships”  National Alliance for Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP)  “Provides high school students the opportunity to take college-credit bearing courses taught by college- approved high school teachers”  “Sole Accrediting body for concurrent enrollment partnerships”

Definition and History, cont.  Michigan Department of Education definition  Stand-alone, school w/in a school, PSA or SEE  The picture in Michigan…  School entities (19)  School programs (49)  Enhanced dual-enrollment – STEM Early College Expansion Partnerships (SECEP) (13)  Michigan Department of Education definition  Stand-alone, school w/in a school, PSA or SEE  The picture in Michigan…  School entities (19)  School programs (49)  Enhanced dual-enrollment – STEM Early College Expansion Partnerships (SECEP) (13)

The LIST Recently updated list of all E/M College programs in Michigan from MEMCA 81 total in Michigan

Student Benefits of Programs

Student Benefits, cont.  According to a 2013 study, Early College Students had…  Better attendance  Lower suspensions  Higher levels of engagement  Compared to the control group, EC students reported  Better relationships with teachers  More rigorous and relevant instruction  More academic and affective support  Higher expectations  According to a 2013 study, Early College Students had…  Better attendance  Lower suspensions  Higher levels of engagement  Compared to the control group, EC students reported  Better relationships with teachers  More rigorous and relevant instruction  More academic and affective support  Higher expectations

Additional Benefits  Students receive tuition- free college credits  Colleges and Universities  EC students may graduate sooner  Less scholarship money to provide  Students receive tuition- free college credits  Colleges and Universities  EC students may graduate sooner  Less scholarship money to provide  High school districts  Another option for students  Able to create partnerships  Students may graduate with an associate’s degree

Overall Challenges  Defining these programs  NACEP and EC Initiative standards vs. Michigan standards  Assessment and accountability  Monetary influence  Who pays for what?  Defining these programs  NACEP and EC Initiative standards vs. Michigan standards  Assessment and accountability  Monetary influence  Who pays for what?

Other Challenges Student Challenges  Possibly disadvantaged with college scholarships  Balancing high school life with college life – maturity levels  Extra-curricular activities  Credit transferability University Challenges  How to code these students? FTIAC? Transfer?  What GPA to use?  Admissible from HS, not college, or vice versa  Transferability of courses  Orientation program?

Future – where to go from here  Is there a need for college admissions offices registrars offices and/or institutional research offices to have a “best practices” regarding early/middle colleges?  Would high school districts benefit from this college/university perspective?  How can we be more involved with MEMCA?  Is there a need for college admissions offices registrars offices and/or institutional research offices to have a “best practices” regarding early/middle colleges?  Would high school districts benefit from this college/university perspective?  How can we be more involved with MEMCA?

Questions to ask your college/university Does our institution have a policy/practice/stance on… o The admissions application process? o The amount of transfer credit awarded? o The type of scholarships these students qualify for? o A specific orientation program or a preference for one or the other?

Resources  AIR.org – Impact studies regarding ECHSI  JFF.org (or earlycollege.org) – Jobs for Future Foundation resources  Michigan Early/Middle College Association – mighigan.gov/mde (under “MDE programs”)  Tc.Columbia.edu/ncrest – Teachers College at Columbia; research on programs   AIR.org – Impact studies regarding ECHSI  JFF.org (or earlycollege.org) – Jobs for Future Foundation resources  Michigan Early/Middle College Association – mighigan.gov/mde (under “MDE programs”)  Tc.Columbia.edu/ncrest – Teachers College at Columbia; research on programs 

Discussion