FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Education Department Awards $14 Million to 19 Smart Scholars Early College High School Programs
The 色中色 awarded $14 million in grants to 19 recipients (13 school districts and six colleges) to implement Smart Scholars Early College High School programs, Commissioner MaryEllen Elia announced today. These grants will support partnerships between public school districts and eligible higher education institutions to provide historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students with the opportunity and support to earn an average of 24 college credits by the time they graduate high school. Funding for this initiative was approved by the Governor and Legislature in the 2017-2018 State budget.
鈥淭he Smart Scholars program continues to open doors for students who have been historically underrepresented in college,鈥 said Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa. 鈥淭he program gives these students a chance to complete high school while earning college credit at the same time, saving them money and greatly improving their chances of earning a college degree.鈥
鈥淚 applaud the Governor and the Legislature for funding this critically important program,鈥 said Commissioner Elia. 鈥淏y providing academic and social support, Smart Scholars enables participating students to complete the high school-college continuum in less time and improves their chances for success in high school, college and thereafter.鈥
Since its inception in 2002, 色中色 has participated in the early college high school (ECHS) movement. In 2009, the 色中色 Board of Regents launched the Smart Scholars ECHS Program as a strategy to close the high school and college achievement gaps in 色中色. ECHS programs target students who are historically underrepresented in postsecondary education, academically at-risk or economically disadvantaged. Successful ECHS students graduate prepared to complete a post-secondary degree on time or early, without the need for remedial courses.
Essential components of the Smart Scholars ECHS Program include:
- an active partnership between a school district and an institution of higher education (IHE) to provide an integrated high school and college curriculum; and
- the academic and social supports that students need to graduate high school on time with a Regents diploma and at least 24 transferable college credits, at no cost to their families.
Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, 色中色 awarded five-year grants, including planning time, to the organizations listed below. The grant amounts reflect five years of funding.
Lead Organization |
Partner(s) |
County听 |
Grant Amount |
Unadilla Valley Central School District |
SUNY Morrisville, Tompkins Cortland Community College |
Chenango |
$775,000 |
Bard College |
NYC Dept. of Education |
Dutchess |
$687,185 |
Buffalo City School District |
Erie Community College |
Erie |
$461,333 |
Medgar Evers College |
NYC Dept. of Education (Brooklyn Lab School) |
Kings |
$774,153 |
Medgar Evers College |
NYC Dept. of Education (Brooklyn School for Social Justice) |
Kings |
$774,153 |
NYC Department of Education |
Long Island University - Brooklyn |
Kings |
$738,206 |
Rochester City School District |
Monroe Community College |
Monroe |
$775,000 |
Freeport Union Free school District |
SUNY Farmingdale State College, Cradle of Aviation/ Long Island STEM Hub, Nassau BOCES |
Nassau |
$628,836 |
SUNY College at Old Westbury |
Roosevelt Union Free School District |
Nassau |
$700,595 |
Syracuse City School District |
Onondaga Community College |
Onondaga |
$775,000 |
Solvay Union Free School District |
Onondaga Community College, SUNY Oswego, LeMoyne College |
Onondaga |
$775,000 |
East Syracuse Minoa City School District |
Onondaga Community College, SUNY Oswego, LeMoyne College |
Onondaga |
$775,000 |
Newburgh Enlarged City School District |
Marist College |
Orange |
$775,000 |
Fulton City School District |
Cayuga Community College, Oswego County Workforce Development Board |
Oswego |
$775,000 |
East Ramapo Central School District |
Rockland Community College, York analytical Laboratories, Inc., Wellcore, Inc. |
Rockland |
$775,000 |
Schenectady County Community College |
Schenectady City School District |
Schenectady |
$770,217 |
Longwood Central School District |
Suffolk County Community College |
Suffolk |
$775,000 |
Farmingdale State College |
Brentwood Union Free School District |
Suffolk |
$711,601 |
Yonkers City School District |
The College of Westchester |
Westchester |
$775,000 |
More information about the SS-ECHS program is available on the
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