November 25, 2014
Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced a new integrated high school and college program in Windham will launch in the fall of 2015. Modeled after IBM’s much heralded Pathways in Technology Early College High School programs (P-TECH), the Connecticut Early College Opportunity (CT-ECO) programallowsstudents to earn an associate degree in addition to a high school diploma.State Representative Susan Johnson (D-Windham) welcomed the news.
“At the ribbon cutting for the NECA program I promised to work withother major employers to replicate this model elsewhere in the state, and today we’re doing just that,” said Governor Malloy. “When we give students the chance to learn science and technology, we give them the skills that employers are looking for, and help pull our workforce into the 21stCentury.”
“Experience college-level material while in high school, this early college program offers students a head start in their careers,” said Rep. Johnson. “Integrating real-world workplace experiences, meaningful mentorships and rigorous academics makes sense.”
At the direction of Governor Malloy, the Department of Education, the Department of Economic and Community Development, and the Board of Regents are collaborating on this initiative to betterprepare students for college and careers while developing a skilled workforce that meets the needs of local employers.In September of 2014, Norwalk Public schools opened the state’s first CT-ECO program, Norwalk Early College Academy (NECA)—apartnership with IBM and Norwalk Community College.
CT-ECO will provide students with an opportunity to access higher education affordably and addresses the critical skills gap that local industries are facing. CT-ECO builds upon the Governor’s commitment to student success and economic health by aligning K-12, college and the workforce.The scope and sequence for these programs feature an integrated curriculum of high school and college courses along with a workplace learning course that focuses on industry soft skills necessary for success and growth across all career fields.
The Eastern CT-ECO program, located in Windham, represents partnerships among the local school districts, Quinebaug Valley Community College (QVCC), and the Eastern Manufacturing Alliance (EAMA) with General Dynamics Electric Boat serving as the lead partner. The Eastern CT-ECO
programs will enable students to earn degrees in the field of Advanced Manufacturing, where demand for middle-skilled well-paying jobs is growing.
The unique structure of this two-pronged partnership, made possible by the active involvement of the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board (EWIB), reflects the importance of collaboration to support a the development of a skilled workforce.In keeping with IBM’s P-TECH model, CT-ECO programs do not have special tests or screenings required for admission.Students are selected to participate through a lottery-based system.
Windham Superintendent Patricia Garcia reflected on this opportunity for the Windham community, “We live in a 21st century global economy and we have a moral obligation to equip our youth with the tools to succeed in today’s world. As such, I am eager to bring this program to Windham. CT-ECO will provide our students with the skills and experience they need to step into competitive industry jobs after graduation.”
Students will also be paired with an industry mentor. Mentors will provide students with valuable insight into how what the mentees are doing in school applies to the real life demands of the workplace. The Eastern CT-ECO programs hope to enroll 50 to 100 students in each location and add similar numbers each consecutive year.With the projected 100 plus students expected to be enrolled in the next cohort of students at NECA and the new programs in the eastern portion of the state, Connecticut stands to have up to 300 students enrolled in CT-ECO programs by the start of the next school year all located in Alliance Districts, which are 30 school districts among the lowest-performing in the state.