The School Committee voted to approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Massasoit Community College on Monday night that will seek to help Everett high school students who have dropped out, or are in danger of dropping out, complete their high school diplomas and begin getting college credit toward a degree.
The Gateway to College program is designed to help students between the ages of 15-21, who are at risk of not completing their high school studies, to graduate with their designated class.
The MOU allows Massasoit and Everett High to work together to align their course work and allows the school district to pay a small fee to Massasoit for providing the Gateway to College program.
“There is a per student cost that is one-half of our per pupil expenditure,” explained Superintendent Frederick Foresteire. “So the program really works for us.”
To be eligible to enroll in the Gateway to College program students must meet the eleigibility requirements of Massasoit Community College and also be between 16 and 21 years of age; reside within the school district; be enrolled in the school district and the community college; have approval of the district to participate; must not have obtained a high school diploma or GED prior to enrolling; and be able to complete the requirements to complete their high school diploma before they turn 22.
The program also provides significant student support services to the students and most of the courses offered at the Community College serve as dual purpose courses helping the student complete their diploma while working toward a degree program.