2026 Early College Summit

This session demonstrates how Early/Middle College counselors from three campuses established a structured collaborative model to strengthen their Comprehensive School Counseling Programs (CSCPs). Participants will learn strategies for planning annual counseling goals, aligning programming to student needs, streamlining graduation audits, and developing shared tools, calendars, and procedures across school sites. Through interactive work sessions, counselors will explore methods for increasing program efficiency, building shared understanding, and ensuring consistent student support in specialized early college environments. This session demonstrates how Early/Middle College counselors from three campuses established a structured collaborative model to strengthen their Comprehensive School Counseling Programs (CSCPs). Participants will learn strategies for planning annual counseling goals, aligning programming to student needs, streamlining graduation audits, and developing shared tools, calendars, and procedures across school sites. Through interactive work sessions, counselors will explore methods for increasing program efficiency, building shared understanding, and ensuring consistent student support in specialized early college environments. 

Future readiness requires more than academic proficiency. Students must be able to navigate diverse cultures, collaborate across differences, apply learning in authentic contexts, and lead with curiosity and confidence.

• MCP builds independence, mastery, and ownership.
• Global Education expands students’ perspectives and cultural competence.
• Experiential Learning connects classroom learning to real‑world challenges.
• A.C.T.I.O.N. provides the schoolwide culture and habits that sustain these practices.
• The Portrait of a Graduate defines the competencies students develop through this ecosystem.

This session helps educators envision how these elements work together to empower early college students academically, socially, and globally.

This session will enable participants to identify how mindfulness-based SEL programming may promote student success, including college readiness, when utilized in an intentional and systematic way. We will introduce the Mindful Educator framework that strengthens social-emotional capacities in a parallel process with staff and students and that builds connection and belonging within the ECHS context. Implementation lessons will be shared from the Be CALM program, which is being delivered in ECHSs across NC and is showing positive impact on both teachers and students. Participants will collaborate with peers to apply this framework to their school goals and needs.

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.