Methuen explores expanding early‑college pathways with UMass Lowell, Northern Essex and Mary Mac

Acting Superintendent Dr. Lisa Golovski updated the Methuen School Committee on outreach to higher‑education partners, saying the district has discussed multiple pathways with Mount Ida ("Mary Mac"), UMass Lowell and Northern Essex Community College.

Dr. Golovski described two separate but complementary ideas: an apprenticeship/applied teacher pathway promoted by UMass Lowell (RTAP) that helps paraprofessionals complete an undergraduate degree while working, and a Northern Essex designation that could allow students to earn an associate degree concurrent with a high‑school diploma. "They're learning from a mentor teacher, and at the end of it become a certified teacher," Golovski said of the apprenticeship approach. She noted those programs can be grant‑funded and would reduce direct district cost if successful.

Committee members pressed on cost and scale. The acting superintendent said RTAP‑style programs she has seen often require a district contribution in the ballpark of $8,000 per participant per year, with the remainder covered by grant funding and student financial aid; she characterized that figure as a typical district share and approximate depending on the grant. The district reported current early‑college enrollment near 70–75 students across pathways and is planning a measured rollout and further planning over the next year.

Why it matters: the early‑college expansion would provide students with hands‑on, college‑level coursework and could reduce the time and cost to complete a college degree; it could also be a teacher‑pipeline strategy by supporting paraprofessionals and program assistants seeking initial licensure. Committee members requested further enrollment projections, cost breakdowns, and follow‑up on grant opportunities to determine which options to pursue.

Next steps: administrators will continue discussions with partner institutions, explore grant opportunities to offset district costs, and return with more detailed enrollment projections and cost estimates for committee review.