MetroWest Scholars Early Start

The MetroWest Scholars Early Start (MWSES) program is an open access early college
program that aims to reach students and families at Framingham, Milford, and Waltham
High Schools, starting in 8th grade, by exposing them to in-demand professional fields and
career pathways, including business, sociology/criminology, STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering, Mathematics), and education. In 9th grade, students will begin taking
exploratory classes, and hear from professionals in those fields about their work and how
they got into their careers. By 10th grade, students will pick a specialized pathway to pursue
and dig deeper into a career track. All along the way, students in the program receive
support and guidance from our program staff, along with student coaches and faculty from
Framingham State University and Mass Bay Community College.

There are no assessments, exams, grade requirements, or MCAS score requirements to
enroll in the program. The only requirement is that each student and one caring adult show
up for the commitment of the program. Each student and their family or caring adult will
receive support throughout the entire journey from 8th grade through High School and into
college. MWSES is open to all students, with intentional recruitment of first generation and
other underserved populations.

Click on any of the boxes below to learn about different parts of the program:

What are the benefits of the program?

Participants in the MetroWest Scholars Early Start (MWSES) program have the opportunity to engage with a broad range of workshops, courses, tutoring, and other academic support, all designed to prepare them for the process of applying to college, graduating on time, and seeking a fulfilling career. The program is specifically designed to meet the needs of
traditionally underserved students and families. The following are some of the program’s key benefits:

• Exposure to in-demand professional fields
• Enrollment in college-credit courses, beginning in the summer before 9th grade
• Regular engagement with college faculty through courses
• Career pathways, allowing students to focus on specific interests by the end of high school
• Advising, coaching, and tutoring consistently available, along with family supports
• Cohort model, designed for Scholars to grow together and uplift one another

On top of this, Scholars in the program are always able to work closely with a team of coaches, advisers, and program staff to make sure that their particular needs are met in order to best prepare them to thrive as they approach college and adult life.

What commitments do students have in the program?

Students are recruited into the program in 8th grade and will commit to participating throughout high school. The following are some of the main commitments expected from all students in the program:
• Regular participation in scheduled workshops (either weekly or bi-weekly)
• Completion of a one-credit Career Readiness course (ideally in 9th grade, no later than 10th grade)
• Completion of 3-4 college-credit courses, with the first being completed no later than 11th grade (scholars can choose to take more courses if they wish)
• Selection of a career pathway by the end of 10th grade, along with the design of a personalized pathway within the chosen field
• Proactive and timely communication with program staff as needed

What kinds of courses are in our catalog?

Students in the MWSES will have access to both courses specific to the program (taking place primarily during school hours) and dual enrollment courses (taking place primarily after school and open to other community members). In 9th and 10th grade, students will mostly participate in broad, general studies courses. As they approach 11th and 12th grade,
the courses will be more focused within the available career pathways (Business, STEM, Education, and Sociology/Criminal Justice). A selection of courses that have been offered previously can be seen here. The list of courses offered for Fall 2021 can be seen here.

What types of student support are available to scholars?

• Virtual Office Hours: All scholars are encouraged to meet with one of our four special teachers who support math, writing, science, and history. Scholars can schedule virtual office hours with any of our teachers specifically for their needs. Students who are showing academic performance gaps may be asked to attend – all others can attend even if they are excelling.
• Mental Wellness Support: Every other Wednesday scholars are invited to attend Wellness Wednesdays which are educational sessions about recognizing your thoughts, triggers, traumas and tensions and understanding how to balance them, resolve them throughemotional intelligence, empathy, understanding and perspective. The Scholars partner with a formal practice of clinicians who offer the conversations and facilitate discussions.
• Advising: Each Wednesday scholars have enrichment space where any adviser, coach, or director can access the scholars to advise them about their current activities, goals or barriers. Each semester a scholar will meet twice with a coach in addition to several meetings with professors about progress, goals, and strategies for reaching those goals.

• ELL: special tutoring sessions and course prep is pushed into the course through coordination with one of our ELL specialists and the professor teaching the course.
• Cultural Capital Tours: The scholars have opportunities for experiential learning as well as traditional methods. The pandemic inspired the program to innovate, leading to a partnership between the scholars and worldwide tour guides. The tours are given through live video with the guide in the actual city where scholars are building their cultural capital. Whether it is Berlin, London, Buenos Aires, Medellin or Beijing- Scholars are working on staying balanced both in and out of the classroom as they explore what a large world awaits them.

What opportunities will scholars have to build community?

Throughout their time in the program, scholars will work and learn alongside their cohort, building friendships and community through those shared experiences. Here are some specific ways that the scholars will be able to build those crucial relationships:
• Enrichment Sessions: Each Wednesday all scholars meet in group to stick together as a community, learn something, check in, clarify information or get help.
• Fun Fridays: Every Friday scholars “hang out” in virtual space together. This is a safe and comfortable space for scholars to connect with one another from their school or their partner school across MetroWest. This space is something our scholars specifically requested and it is well utilized.
• One Friday a month we partner with a pizza place and offer pizza or sandwiches and trivia prizes to scholars as a drive by community engagement event. After COVID, we will look forward to a sit-down gathering.

How does family engagement work in the program?

All MetroWest Scholars begin to engage in the MWSES Community in 8th grade. Families are always included in all conversations, updates, decisions and successes throughout the program. Students and families find out about our structure and support through text messages, phone calls and our weekly meetings – student support is always anticipated, structured and ongoing. These meetings are not one-offs- they are a regular part of the week-to-week participation in the MWSES program.

It is also important to mention that there is a family council that the MWSES prides itself on. The council offers instruction, suggestion and support to the team about what is working and not working for the scholars and the community. View the links below to learn more about family council and how to get involved.

Dual Enrollment/Early College
The College Dual Enrollment Program administers dual enrollment classes for primarily underrepresented and underserved students from the area’s districts. When a student shows academic proficiency in their studies, they have the ability to take college level courses as a high school student. The program funds six courses per year with partner
districts. All courses are all part of Mass Transfer block courses and can be transferred for guaranteed credit to any Mass Higher Education system. This gives students the chance to develop skills to gain academic rigor, stamina, and real-life experience about college expectations while receiving college credit early and getting a jump start on a future college degree.

Important Links

• Applications for the program »

• Join Family Council »

• Policies for F or Withdrawal »

• Advice for naming a mentor »

• Details on career pathways »

Districts Participating