We work alongside our partners from the New York Equity Coalition to champion policies that provide equitable access to college credit in high school. We advocate at the state and district level to ensure programs center equity and are accountable to both student performance and postsecondary success. That starts with removing barriers to access for students of color and from low-income backgrounds while increasing data transparency about the access to and outcomes of college credit in high school programs — also known as early college and dual enrollment programs.

Data from the New York Alliance for Early College Pathways (NY4ECP) underscores the significant impact of early college programs in boosting college enrollment, persistence, and graduation rates for New York’s most marginalized students. With only 32% of high school graduates from underrepresented backgrounds completing high school on time, NY4ECP’s findings demonstrate how early college pathways are bridging the equity gap, preparing students for both higher education and meaningful careers. For students of color and and those from low-income backgrounds, early college pathways offer an invaluable opportunity. These programs not only ease financial barriers to college but also foster a smoother transition to postsecondary education, raising the odds of success.