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RTI International will host the 2026 Early College Summit on June 9–10, 2026 at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, NC. This two-day event for early college leaders and program teams will focus on research-based early college and dual enrollment strategies to improve practice and support student success in  rigorous learning environments. The Summit is designed so that veteran and new early college practitioners and college partners can collaborate to learn and share expertise to improve learning and student outcomes.  Join us as we strengthen our capabilities to empower learners for future ready success!
Type: Partnerships clear filter
Tuesday, June 9
 

10:45am EDT

Bucking the Trend: Increasing Dual Enrollment in a World of Declining High School Populations
Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Winston 1A
In upstate New York, as with many parts of the country, public school enrollment has dropped 5-10% over the past decade. This session will highlight how Hudson Valley Community College defied the odds, achieving a 62% increase in annual dual enrollment over the past five years while transforming the DE experience for high school students. HVCC's College in the High School Program serves as a model for embedding holistic advising and student support directly into all aspects of the enrollment process. Attendees will get an inside look at how HVCC works with its 30+ district partners to provide 1-on-1 advisement opportunities, develop degree pathways specific to each school's student interests, and streamline every step of the enrollment process using the Canusia platform. The result? A sharp increase in program enrollment, improved credit completion, and expanded degree attainment for Dual Enrollment students. 
Presenters
AR

Andrew Roberts

Customer Success Specialist, Canusia, Inc.

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Winston 1A
  Partnerships

10:45am EDT

Leveraging the Power of Student Leadership
Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Salem 1C
Are you ready to help your students become the leaders they were made to be?

We believe students are ready for more! More responsibility, more opportunity for impact, and more ownership of the school environment.

The key to leveraging the power of student leadership lies in inspiring our students to believe they can lead, equipping them with research based leadership skills, and empowering them to lead within their school community.

We will reflect on case studies of how 3 schools across 3 states have done that during the 2025-2026 school year.

You'll also get to experience 2 of our signature leadership development activities which you can use to cultivate leadership among your students!
Presenters
avatar for Stuart Gordon

Stuart Gordon

Founder & CEO, Appointed to Lead
After 10 years in the classroom, Stuart founded Appointed to Lead motivated by a passion for providing high quality leadership development instruction to high school students. Appointed to Lead seeks to help every student become the leader they were made to be by inspiring, equipping... Read More →
Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Salem 1C
  Partnerships
  • global Y

1:00pm EDT

From Campus to Classroom: Building Replicable University–Early College Partnerships for Future-Ready Learning
Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Salem 1C
Early colleges located on or near college campuses can leverage higher education assets in ways that extend beyond dual enrollment credit. This interactive session highlights a replicable partnership model between Fayetteville State University’s Intelligent Systems Lab and Cumberland County Schools designed to strengthen instructional rigor and college readiness. Participants will explore how faculty expertise, undergraduate mentorship, and research lab resources were activated through structured collaboration. Attendees will map their own partnership ecosystems and leave with practical strategies to build sustainable, campus-embedded collaborations that enhance student engagement and future-ready learning.

Presenters
SB
avatar for Ashlee Russell

Ashlee Russell

Chief Learning Consultant, AI Learning Central
Ashlee Russell is the founder of AI Learning Central and a faculty member at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she teaches first-year seminar courses focused on information literacy and ethical AI use. With nearly two decades of experience in K–12 education and... Read More →
Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Salem 1C
  Partnerships
  • global Y
 
Wednesday, June 10
 

8:30am EDT

Breaking Down Barriers: How Texas Regional Collectives Are Transforming Dual Credit
Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
Winston 1A
In this session, Texas school and higher education leaders will discuss their journey to enhance dual credit pathway programs. This collaborative group has strengthened existing programs and engaged every educational level from K-12 to state agencies.

Our facilitator will guide panelists in exploring how regional collectives strengthen dual credit pathways and four-year programs. [Original focus was on Teacher Preparation.] Panelists include leaders from school districts, community colleges, bachelor's programs, and Educate Texas, a statewide organization advancing public education reform.

This session provides foundational strategies to help participants establish regional learning communities and streamline academic pathways for all students.
Presenters
avatar for Joseph Reyes

Joseph Reyes

Deputy Director, Teaching & Leading, Educate Texas

CA
avatar for Maegan Collins

Maegan Collins

Department Chair of General Education and Developmental Studies at Lamar Institute of Technology, Lamar Institute of Technology

PP
Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
Winston 1A
  Partnerships

8:30am EDT

Empowering Learners to be Public Service Leaders: NC’s Public Service Leadership Program
Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
Salem 1B
Do you work with students who are driven to do good things in the world, help people, and who want to be guided in their work by a sense of passion? They could be a good fit for NC's newly-launched NC Public Service Leadership Program (PSLP). In this session, learners will gain a robust knowledge about NC’s Public Service Leadership Program’s pre-BSW certificate, including its origins, its curriculum, its benefits for early college students, how to connect interested students to the program, and how interested early college staff and leaders can get involved with the program’s development and stewardship.

Presenters
avatar for Nina Muller

Nina Muller

Secondary Education Program Manager, Public Service Leadership Program
Nina Muller works as the Secondary Education Program Manager for the Public Service Leadership Program (PSLP), housed at the UNC-CH School of Social Work. She joined the School of Social Work staff in 2023 as the School Behavioral Health Program Lead for the Behavioral Health Springboard... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
Salem 1B
  Partnerships

9:45am EDT

Building and Fostering Partnerships and Technology to Expand Dual Credit Access: Lessons from the Deeper Learning Early College Model from The University of Kentucky’s Next Gen Scholars Program
Wednesday June 10, 2026 9:45am - 11:15am EDT
Winston 3A
The University of Kentucky Next Gen Scholars Program (NXGS) has expanded a deeper learning early college (DLEC) model designed to increase dual credit access for high school students. By leveraging strong partnerships, collaborative networking, professional learning opportunities, innovative early college structures, deeper learning practices, and technology, the program broadens students' opportunities statewide. This session will highlight how the DLEC model reduces barriers to entry, scales dual credit offerings through flexible instructional delivery models, and provides comprehensive student support and professional training for dual credit educators. The DELC model enhances the high school experience and increases DC participation statewide.
Presenters
avatar for Neomia Hagans-Flores

Neomia Hagans-Flores

Director of Dual Credit, University of Kentucky

MW

Margo Whisman

Network Liaison, University of Kentucky

TD

Trisha Douin-Manning

Evaluator & Researcher, University of Kentucky

avatar for Emily Thurman

Emily Thurman

Scholars Program Advisor, University of Kentucky

Wednesday June 10, 2026 9:45am - 11:15am EDT
Winston 3A
  Partnerships
  • global Y

9:45am EDT

Successfully Strengthening Parentships: Quincy’s Early College High School Opportunities & Post-Secondary Education Initiatives
Wednesday June 10, 2026 9:45am - 11:15am EDT
Salem 1A
This session will explore the history and growth of Quincy’s Early College High School Pathway, which began in Fall 2021. Presenters will share the ways in which Quincy High School, North Quincy High School, and Quincy College have worked together to provide students with strong post-secondary opportunities and ongoing support, made possible by Early College High School. Built on a strong, collaborative partnership, leaders and educators from Quincy College and Quincy Public Schools look forward to leading a dynamic and informative session. This session will explore the history and growth of Quincy’s Early College High School Pathway, which began in Fall 2021. Presenters will share the ways in which Quincy High School, North Quincy High School, and Quincy College have worked together to provide students with strong post-secondary opportunities and ongoing support, made possible by Early College High School. Built on a strong, collaborative partnership, leaders and educators from Quincy College and Quincy Public Schools look forward to leading a dynamic and informative session. 
Presenters
avatar for Meghan Giovannoni

Meghan Giovannoni

Vice President of Student Success & Partnerships, Quincy College
Meghan Giovannoni serves as the Vice President of Student Success and Partnerships at Quincy College. As a co-founder of Quincy’s Early College High School Pathway, she is thrilled to share this exceptional program with summit participants. In her role at Quincy College she oversees... Read More →
DG

Daniel Gould

Early College Transition Coach, North Quincy High School, Quincy High School
Dan Gould serves as the Early College Transition Coach at North Quincy High School. While he is employed by Quincy College, he works on campus at North Quincy High School each day supporting the Early College students. His role is to ensure that every student feels supported and has... Read More →
avatar for Elyjah Stewart

Elyjah Stewart

Early College Transition Coach, Quincy High School, Quincy High School
Eli Stewart serves as the college transition coach for the early college program at Quincy High School. Employed at Quincy College for the past 8 years and formerly the assistant to the dean of health sciences, he has been with the early college program since it began in the fall... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 9:45am - 11:15am EDT
Salem 1A
  Partnerships
  • global Y

12:40pm EDT

The Power of Near-Peer Instruction: How NEON Teaching Fellows Can Transform Next Generation Early Colleges
Wednesday June 10, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
Winston 3C
This session examines how near-peer Teaching Fellows advance innovative instructional practice, individualized student support, and authentic IHE partnerships. National Education Opportunity Network Teaching Fellows—undergraduate and graduate students from partner institutions—support college-level coursework through synchronous recitations, small-group instruction, and academic coaching that build student self-efficacy, college-going identity, and persistence. Participants will explore how this role differs from traditional faculty, teaching assistants, or tutors, and how near-peer models operationalize framework priorities around personalization, collaboration, and postsecondary readiness, particularly for first-generation and underrepresented students.
Presenters
SB
avatar for Dr. Lisle Smart

Dr. Lisle Smart

Director of School Opportunity, National Education Opportunity Network

Wednesday June 10, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
Winston 3C
  Partnerships

12:40pm EDT

“Because You Matter: The Power of Health & Wellness Day”
Wednesday June 10, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
Salem 1B
High school can be stressful—academics, activities, relationships, and future plans can all feel overwhelming at times. A Health & Wellness Day provides a proactive, preventive approach to supporting the whole student—addressing mental, emotional, and physical health as essential components of academic success.This session explores the rationale behind implementing a Health & Wellness Day for your school and leave with a clearer understanding of why prioritizing student wellness is not an “extra,” but a necessary investment in student success.
Presenters
avatar for Hilary Lucas

Hilary Lucas

Counselor, Craven Early College High School

Wednesday June 10, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
Salem 1B
  Partnerships
 
2026 Early College Summit
From $675.00

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