Worcester Public Schools will enhance high school students' access to free college coursework.

The Early College Worcester Program announced on Monday that it has secured a $150,000 grant

from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

Thanks to the state grant, Worcester Public School kids will be able to attend college classes for free.

A $75,000 DESE grant was also awarded to Quinsigamond Community College and Worcester State University, which partner with WPS on the Early College Worcester Program.

By FY24, the latter grant aims to extend early college programs to serve a minimum of 25% of students in each grade level.

According to Early College Worcester, the Early College Full School Impact Grant given to Worcester Public Schools would allow students at Claremont Academy to achieve a minimum of 30 college credits while completing their MassCore/high school graduation requirements.

Since its inception in 2018, the Early College Worcester program has supplied over 2,000 kids with free college coursework, college preparatory seminars, and wrap-around services.

The present programs will continue to be available to all WPS students and will be extended as a result of the award.

Superintendent Maureen Binienda says the school system is dedicated to expanding the program to all of its high schools.

Students who graduate from Massachusetts' early college programs are enrolling in college and seeking for federal assistance at higher rates than their classmates, according to the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education in 2020.