SHEFFIELD, Mass. — Mount Everett Regional School has been awarded three grants this year totaling $155,000 to continue the implementation of the school's Early College and Innovation Pathways programs. 

 

The programs have been part of Southern Berkshire Regional School District's goal to provide their students with free college credit and career development exposure and training through internship opportunities by the time they graduate. 

 

"We have witnessed tremendous success with our Early College and Innovation Pathways programs, which were implemented at Mount Everett just last year,” said Superintendent Beth Regulbuto. "Securing state grant funding allows us to further enhance and expand these innovative programs, ultimately benefiting our students for years to come."

 

In 2022, Mount Everett became the first public wall-to-wall Early College in the state, a non-transferable program in which 80 percent of the Class of 2023 earned college credit for free and obtained a total of 220 transferable college credits in the program's first year of implementation. Each semester, the courses offered are based on student interest, as elevating student voices is an integral part of Mount Everett's curriculum. 

 

"The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education awarded Mount Everett $80,000 for the school's Early College program and $75,000 for the Innovation Pathways program, and we are expecting more funding before the end of the year,” said Early College and Internship Coordinator Lindy Marcel. "The grants are being spent in a way that ensures the sustainability of the programs for years to come.” 

 

Through the Innovation Pathways program, students have the opportunity to enroll in an Advanced Manufacturing pathway or an Information Technology pathway. Both pathway offerings give students the chance to gain exposure in high-demand technology career fields by working internships and gaining industry-recognized certifications. 

 

In the following years, Mount Everett also plans on expanding their technology course offerings to include even more future-minded opportunities for students. 

 

"Eventually we want students to have the option to pursue and graduate with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified drone pilot license," Mount Everett's Technology Director Chris Thompson shared.