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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Education Commissioner David M. Steiner today announced the award of $5.5 million in grants to fund 16 Smart Scholars Early College High School (ECHS) projects.�� Previously eleven Smart Scholars ECHS partnerships were initiated in December 2009 with private funding, in part by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.�� In addition to the program grants, $500,000 was funded to provide technical assistance for all 27 ECHS projects.

The Smart Scholars ECHS program creates early college high schools that give students the opportunity to accelerate the completion of high school studies while earning college credits at the same time. Students receive additional academic support from school/college partnerships to ensure they are at grade level and ready to participate in rigorous collegiate courses. This "dual enrollment" program serves to increase high school graduation and college completion rates among those historically left in the gap, while reducing college tuition costs as a result of the college credits earned in high school.

"Smart Scholars allows New York high school students to receive college credit, finish their degrees faster, and do it at a significantly reduced cost," Governor Cuomo said. "I commend my partners in government for working together and delivering a program that is beneficial to so many young New Yorkers."

Commissioner Steiner said, "Smart Scholars is an important step towards ensuring that students who historically have not had access to or success in college can be ready for higher education and complete their schooling at an affordable cost. Allowing students to complete the high school-college continuum in less time will save money and improve their chances for success in both high school and college, a key element in the Regents Reform Agenda.�� The program succeeds because it utilizes the vast resources that USNY – the University of the State of New York – has to offer by linking schools and BOCES with New York’s colleges and universities.�� We are grateful to Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature for supporting this innovative engagement of high school students through college coursework."

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, "Smart Scholars is an innovative program that addresses a number of important issues, including increasing high school and college graduation rates – particularly among high need students, creating more opportunities for career-track employment, reducing student tuition costs due to less time needed to complete a college degree, and ultimately lessening State costs. Providing a State match for a second cohort of the Smart Scholars Program was a priority for the Assembly majority in this year's budget. It is crucial that we continue to support strategies to close the achievement gap and provide new opportunities for academic success."

Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos said, "Smart Scholars will reach students in need of help bridging the gaps that they may face in their pursuit of a college education. The Senate was pleased to support this program in the 2011-12 budget and I congratulate today’s grant recipients as they continue to partner together on innovative programs that will enable more children to graduate and go on to college."

Senator John Flanagan, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, said, "We must continue to target student populations who traditionally attend college at disproportionately low rates, find ways to bridge the performance gap and increase graduation rates. The academic support provided by the Smart Scholars program will be an effective way of preparing students leading up to, and after graduation, so that they can be successful in achieving their higher education goals."

"Smart Scholars program will allow students the opportunity to expand on their education while still in high school,” said Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, Chair of the Assembly Education Committee. “Programs such as this one give schools the funding they need to increase their graduation rates and prepare their students for their future."

Assemblymember Deborah Glick, Chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, said, "The smart scholars program offers youngsters the opportunity to obtain college credits while still in high school. It not only provides essential support for the��higher education aspirations of young people, but at a time when college costs are exploding, it reduces that substantial burden. I hope many youngsters around the state will have the chance to participate."

"Smart Scholars is a winning combination for students and our state. The program will increase high school and college graduation rates and create more job opportunities while reducing student tuition costs because of compressed time to complete a college degree," New York State Senator and Chair of the Senate’s Higher Education Committee Kenneth P. LaValle said.

SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher said, "Smart Scholars Early College High Schools are making college a reality for students who otherwise would be at risk of dropping out. By giving high school students an opportunity to earn college credit, we give them a better chance for success in higher education. SUNY is a proud partner in this initiative with Governor Cuomo, Commissioner Steiner, and all of the school officials whose commitment to strengthening the education pipeline in New York is evident in their continued development of Early College High Schools throughout the state."

The ECHS program addresses disparities in high school graduation rates between groups of students. For example, Black students in the cohort of students who began ninth grade in 2004 graduated at a rate 28 points lower (54%) than white students (82%). Likewise, the gap between Hispanic (52%) and white students for the 2004 cohort was 30 points.

The following schools and their partners were selected through a competitive process:

SMART SCHOLARS EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOLS - GROUP 2
AWARDED MAY 2011

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SMART SCHOLARS EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOLS - GROUP 1
AWARDED DECEMBER 2009

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