Opinion: New Fall River, New Bedford charter school will pave the way to college success
The young people of New Bedford and Fall River possess boundless potential. They dream of becoming tomorrow’s epidemiologists, computer scientists, and biomedical engineers. They deserve an education that will prepare them to reach their goals and build meaningful careers.
When provided a high-quality education, rooted in a rigorous curriculum paired with robust supports, our cities’ young people can achieve at the very highest levels. Toward this end, the newly proposed Innovators Charter School aims to provide our cities’ young people an early college STEM education that cultivates the knowledge, skills, and mindsets necessary for success in college and the 21st century workforce.
ICS, if approved by the state, will open in the fall of 2022 as a public, nonprofit charter school, overseen by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and open to any sixth through 12th grade student residing in New Bedford or Fall River. It will operate outside the traditional district school system, but will be public in every way — open to all students whose families decide we offer an option best suited to meet their children’s needs and potential.
The ICS program has been intentionally and thoughtfully designed to support academic, social and emotional development, incorporating the science of adolescent development, the principles of deeper learning, and a comprehensive early college STEM curriculum. ICS is designed to be a place where students develop not only mastery of core content knowledge but also the abilities to communicate their ideas effectively, think creatively, work collaboratively and manage their own learning. Through a culture based on a strong sense of belonging, ICS students will nurture their sense of identity, advocacy and agency as well as the skills of adaptability and creativity needed to thrive in a world of change.
As an early college program, career development is central to the ICS approach. In middle school, students will engage in career exploration, exposure and engagement. Beginning in high school, through their regular course of studies, all ICS students will earn a minimum of 12 and up to 60 free, transferable college credits. ICS students will have access to courses and resources at Bristol Community College, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Bridgewater State University, and Landmark College, an institution exclusively designed and accredited to support students with learning disabilities. Experience at these higher education institutions, each with a rich history of educational and community partnerships, will allow our young people the opportunity to not simply imagine themselves in college but to experience early success in the collegiate environment. Every ICS student will graduate with an associate’s degree, industry credentials, or, at the very least, 12 college credits, minimizing future debt and increasing the likelihood of future degree attainment.
ICS’s early college program is designed to meet a need in our communities and complement what is being offered in the traditional district high schools. New Bedford and Fall River have among the lowest postsecondary enrollment and persistence rates in the Commonwealth. Moreover, economically disadvantaged students in these two communities are significantly less likely to enroll and persist in post-secondary education than their more economically advantaged peers. Research has shown that early college programs can be part of the solution. Students enrolled in early college programs are more likely to enroll in college and more likely to earn a degree. In fact, students who participate in early college programs are more likely to earn their degrees more quickly — and thus with less debt — than their peers.
We can and must do better. The time is now. We cannot afford to wait. All children, regardless of neighborhood or family income, deserve a public education option aligned with their ambitious dreams and worthy of their tremendous potential. ICS aims to become one element of the solution, serving as a valued and impactful part of the public education system in our communities. We are eager to provide the students and families of New Bedford and Fall River the nurturing environment, rich educational experience and equitable access to higher education they deserve. Together, we can offer our young people a bright path to becoming the epidemiologists, computer scientists and biomedical engineers they dream of being.
John J. Sbrega, Ph.D, is Board Chair-Designate for Innovations Charter School.
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Opinion: Fall River, New Bedford charter school will help students
