For more information contact:
Katie Cyr
kcyr@napsk12.org
Phone: (413) 662-3240 EX: 2318
NAPS AND MCLA ANNOUNCE OFFICIAL EARLY COLLEGE PROGRAM DESIGNATION
NORTH ADAMS, Mass.—North Adams Public Schools (NAPS), along with Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), is proud to announce the official designation of the Early College program at Drury-MCLA. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Higher Education approved the full designation on March 15. Jeffrey C. Riley, the Commonwealth’s commissioner of elementary and secondary education, praised Drury and MCLA for the planning undertaken to establish an Early College program in North Adams: “We congratulate this achievement, particularly given the rigor of the established criteria and the extensive requirements of the application.”
Early College at Drury-MCLA will be the first program of its kind in northern Berkshire County, and one of the few comprehensive Early College programs in the state. By 2027, all students at Drury will have the opportunity to graduate with 30+ college credits at zero cost to families. The Early College program is designed to introduce a college-going identity to North Adams Public Schools students, beginning in grade 7, by building academic, vocational, and self-advocacy skills so they will have the content mastery and self-confidence to be successful in college and beyond.
As Early College at Drury-MCLA is considered a “wall to wall” program, there are no barriers for any student wishing to enroll in the program. The overarching goal will be to increase the enrollment into Early College courses for economically disadvantaged students, high needs students, students with disabilities, and students of color who have been traditionally underserved in higher education.
“MCLA’s Early College partnership with Drury will allow our local high school students the opportunity to enroll in rigorous, college-level classes at no additional expense,” said MCLA President James F. Birge. “The coursework will prepare them for success in college, as well as set them on a path to pursue graduate school and to advance in thriving careers, both in the region and beyond. The Early College program exemplifies MCLA’s goal of social mobility for all, and we’re excited to offer these educational opportunities with as few hurdles as possible.”
“This program is a game-changer for the students and families of North Adams,” said Drury High School Principal Stephanie Kopala. “When we started this process, in 2018, it was to provide our students with equitable access to higher education and we have achieved that goal. The possibilities for our students are endless with the adoption of Early College.”
“Early College has been a great opportunity,” said Elizabeth Skye Boyd, Drury Class of 2023. “This program has helped me understand what to expect when I go to college in the fall, and it creates a lot of new experiences for us to learn things we may not have otherwise.”
Early College at Drury-MCLA students will have the opportunity to take college level courses on both the Drury and MCLA campuses. Kate Cyr, Early College coordinator on the Drury High School campus, said that currently, in Drury’s pilot year, there are 65 students enrolled in Early College, with 345 college credits being awarded in the first semester of the 2022-2023 school year alone. By the end of the 2023 school year, an additional 144 credits are to be attained by Early College at Drury-MCLA students.
“This has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me, professionally or otherwise,” said Cyr. “I am beyond excited to continue the efforts put forth into the betterment of our students. Every day, they remind me why this work is so important, and I am incredibly grateful to be a part of it.”
Dr. Timothy Callahan, assistant superintendent of the North Adams Public Schools, has long been a proponent of Early College programming in North Adams and was part of the original team applying for full designation for Drury and MCLA. “When we began this process of designing an Early College program for our community, we were excited about the collaboration between MCLA and our public schools as we provided more access to college courses for our high school students,” Callahan said. “Since that original proposal, the project has continued to grow and evolve into a full school model that will help every one of our students achieve high levels of success.”
For more information about Early College programming and opportunities, contact Drury Early College Coordinator Kate Cyr at kcyr@napsk12.org.
About North Adams Public Schools
The mission of the North Adams Public Schools is to help every child learn every day and empower all students to recognize and optimize their full potential. Our district consists of approximately 1,300 students and 340 staff members. There are three elementary schools (Brayton, Colegrove Park, Greylock) consisting of grades PreK to 6, and one high school (Drury) consisting of grades 7-12 with a middle grades team academy for 7th and 8th grade. For more information, visit, www.napsk12.org.
About MCLA
At MCLA, we’re here for all — and focused on each — of our students. Classes are taught by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive on every level of their lives. In nearly every way possible, the experience at MCLA is designed to elevate our students as individuals, leaders, and communicators, fully empowered to make their impressions on the world. In addition to our 128-year commitment to public education, we have fortified our commitment to equitable academic excellence. For 10 of the last 12 years, MCLA has been named a Top Ten College by U.S. News and World Report. MCLA also appears on the organization’s list of top National Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Since the list was created, MCLA has risen to #33 as a Top Performer on Social Mobility and ranks first among all Massachusetts liberal arts schools, which measures how well schools graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants. Learn more at www.mcla.edu.
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