Early College Day at the State House 2025

On March 12, 2025, nearly 400 students, leaders, and partners from around the state joined us on Beacon Hill to demonstrate the power of Early College. We’re deeply grateful to the legislative partners who hosted the briefing and State House tours, to our organizational co-sponsors who supported the event, and especially to the program leaders and students who bring Early College to life every day.

Alliance Executive Director Erika Giampietro kicked off the Early College Legislative Briefing with a warm welcome, and set the theme for the day: “what would it take for Early College to reach tens of thousands more students than it is today, and to set students up to earn degrees and reach fulfilling careers?” An expert panel of “Early College Pioneers”, who have been supporting the program from its inception in 2018, responded by calling for enabling policy that supports program growth, a highly integrated college and career approach, and a high-expectations culture with robust supports that enable students to succeed. Thank you to the distinguished panelists who have been trailblazers in this work:

Almi Abeyta, Superintendent, Chelsea Public Schools
Donna Doucette, Guidance Counselor, Lynn Public Schools
Lane Glenn, President, Northern Essex Community College
Marjorie Ringrose, Director of Education, The Richard and Susan Smith Foundation

In support of a call for deeper investments for Early College, we need to be able to articulate the role of college itself in helping students and communities thrive. Michael Goodman, Executive Director of Economic Development & Community Partnerships and Professor of Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, spoke to the importance of college completion in promoting better career outcomes for students and families, and as a primary economic development driver for the Commonwealth. Alliance Deputy Director Chessye Moseley provided an update on the Early College Initiative, focusing on the impact of the Commonwealth’s programs, and signaling policy and practice priorities for the years to come.

In closing, legislative partners, including Representatives Jeff Roy (Second Division Chair), Kate Lipper-Garabedian (Chair, House Committee on Ethics), and Kenneth Gordon (Chair, Joint Committee on Education), along with Senator Brendan Crighton (Chair, Senate Committee on Juvenile and Emerging Adult Justice and Joint Committee on Transportation), emphasized the legislature’s commitment to shaping policy and securing funding to sustain and expand Early College opportunities. Representatives Roy and Lipper-Garabedian and Senator Crighton have been primary champions of “An Act Relative to College in High School”, which seeks the necessary administrative, programmatic, and funding structures required for an expansive and thriving Early College Initiative.

While legislators were briefed on key policy priorities, more than 200 students and program partners enjoyed a tour of the State House led by sitting legislators and legislative staff. Tour attendees had the opportunity to interact directly with legislators (in some cases representing their local district), take in the history of the State House, and see a few of the building’s most iconic spaces, including the House and Senate chambers.

For the second year in a row, the tours were a huge success! Thank you to our legislative partners who took the time out of their busy schedules to spend time with us:

• Representative David Biele (4th Suffolk)
• Representative Rob Consalvo (14th Suffolk)
• Representative Brandy Fluker-Reid (12th Suffolk)
• Representative Sean Garballey (23rd Middlesex)
• Senator Robyn Kennedy (1st Worcester)
• Tim Askew, Legislative Aide to Representative Priscila Sousa (6th Middlesex)

Following the morning programming, students and partners from 32 high schools and 16 colleges and universities programs spent the afternoon leading legislative visits to every office in the building through a mix of scheduled meetings and door-knocking to share their Early College experiences. A highlight of the day was seeing students take center stage in conversations with legislators. While program leaders were on hand to support their students, it was the young people whose voices communicated the most important message: Early College is a game-changer for our futures, and we believe our peers should have the opportunity to benefit from it.

Thank you to the students and partners from the following communities who advocated with us: Athol, Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Chelsea, Fall River, Fitchburg, Framingham, Gardner, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Haverhill, Milford, New Bedford, Revere, Salem, Southern Berkshires, Springfield, Waltham, and Worcester.

Call to Action
In just seven years, the Early College Initiative has grown from a handful of pilot programs to a transformative statewide initiative. At the same time, we know we are at a key point in the Initiative’s development. The rapid growth in enrollment, and the state’s ongoing strategic planning process, call for a renewed commitment to a funding structure and a set of enabling policies that promote program success. We left the day more determined than ever to continue advocating alongside you all for the future of Early College, and we hope you will continue to lift your voices to ensure your students and communities reap the benefits of future investments.

It is, as always, a pleasure to work with you all, and we look forward to continuing to support your work – and another great showing on Beacon Hill in 2026!

Photo Gallery

Thank you to all of the distinguished leaders who contributed their expertise to our legislative briefing.

Erika Giampietro, Executive Director
Massachusetts Alliance for Early College

Almi Abeyta, Superintendent
Chelsea Public Schools

Lane Glenn, President
Northern Essex Community College

Michael Goodman, Executive Director of Economic Development & Community Partnerships and Professor of Public Policy
UMass Dartmouth

Senator Brendan Crighton

Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian

Melanie Cerin Aldana, Early College Alumna
Framingham High School & MassBay Community College

Donna Doucette, District Guidance Counselor
Lynn Public Schools

Marjorie Ringrose, Director of Education
The Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation

Chessye Moseley, Deputy Director
Massachusetts Alliance for Early College

Representative Jeff Roy

Representative Kenneth Gordon

Thank you to the legislators and legislative staff who supported our State House tours, and to the 200+ program staff and students who made it such a lively event!

Pictured left to right: Representative Fluker-Reid, Senator Kennedy, Representative Garballey, and Representative Biele. Not pictured here: Representative Consalvo, who also led a tour group.

Students started their morning with a briefing of their own in Gardner Auditorium, before heading out with the tour guides to learn about the history, decor, and power of the State House.

Thank you to all of the students and program leaders who participated in legislative visits, and to the legislators and legislative staffers who took the time to hear their stories.

Senate President Karen Spilka met with students from Cambridge and Alliance Policy Fellows in the Senate Chamber.

Durfee High School students (Fall River) met with Ways & Means Chair Senator Michael Rodrigues.

The New Bedford team met with Senator Mark Montigny, who serves as Dean of the Senate.

Students and staff from Milford met with Representative Brian Murray.

Students from Fitchburg visited Senator John Cronin’s office.

Salem Superintendent Steve Zrike and team met with Representative Manny Cruz.

Students from Argosy Collegiate Charter School in Fall River met with Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian.

House Assistant Majority Leader Alice Peisch met with Alliance Policy Fellows to discuss the program.

Students from Lynn met with Senator Brendan Crighton.

Students and staff from Revere met with Representative Jessica Giannino.

Students from TechBoston Academy posed for a photo on the grand staircase with Representative Rob Consalvo.

Leaders from the Department of Higher Education sat with Alliance Policy Fellows for a discussion over lunch.

Students from Greater Lowell Technical High School met with Representative Tara Hong.

The Waltham team met with Representative Thomas Stanley.