2026 Early College Summit: Full Schedule

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!

10:45am EDT

Future Ready Dual Enrollment – What Early Colleges Teach Us About Expanding Access, Pathways, and Student Success

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT

Winston 3C

Dual enrollment participation is growing nationally, but access and outcomes remain uneven, especially for students who would benefit most from a clear, supported on-ramp to college and credentials. In North Carolina, Career and College Promise (CCP) offers a structured, statewide model with multiple pathways including college transfer, CTE, and cooperative innovative high school (a.k.a. early college) programs. Using North Carolina as an example of a rich and diversified approach to dual enrollment, this panel will spotlight what’s working, identify barriers limiting participation and completion, and explore how high-impact early college strategies, including clearly defined pathways and strong student supports, can be applied to improve student success in all types of dual enrollment programs.

Presenters

Dr. De McKenzie

Education Consultant, RTI International

Dr. Demond “De” McKenzie is an expert in education and leadership development with over 20 years of experience. Currently he serves as an education consultant and leadership coach for RTI’s Education Services team, where he leads design and facilitation of professional development... Read More →

Frank McKay

Education Consultant, RTI International

Frank McKay has dedicated his career to designing and improving educational experiences for students and educators. As RTI's Director for Education Networks, Frank works with the amazing Early College Network (ECN) team at RTI to ensure that member voices and interests guide ECN activities... Read More →

Julie Edmunds

Director, Early College Research Center, Early College Research Center, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Dr. Julie Edmunds is Director of the Early College Research Center at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she leads a team doing research on the early college model, dual enrollment, career pathways, and efforts to increase postsecondary access and success. She has been studying early college and dual enrollment for over two decades... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Winston 3C

Research Policy & Impact

10:45am EDT

From the Ground Up: Reinventing Early College for Sustainable Success

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT

Winston 3C

Early College programs are often born out of bold vision—but sustaining that vision, revamping a struggling program, or restarting one that has lost momentum requires intentional leadership, strategic culture-building, and collective ownership from both administrators and teachers.From the Ground Up explores what it truly takes to build, rebuild, or reinvent an Early College program. Drawing on real-world experiences from program launch, redesign, and renewal, this session will walk participants through the foundational work that must happen when a program is starting fresh—or starting over. Attendees will examine how clarity of purpose, aligned systems, and strong relationships can transform an Early College from a collection of good intentions into a thriving, student-centered model.Participants will leave with practical strategies principals and teachers can use immediately to stabilize, strengthen, and sustain Early College programs—whether they are opening their doors for the first time or reimagining what success should look like moving forward.

Presenters

Dr. Kim McMinn

Director, Polk County Early College

Dr. Kim McMinn is the Director of Polk County Early College, where she brings a career-long commitment to student success, instructional excellence, and innovative school leadership. She holds a doctorate in education, with advanced training in educational leadership, school improvement... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Winston 3C

Student Supports

global Y

1:00pm EDT

Mission in Motion: Aligning Vision, Goals, and Student Opportunities through the Next Generation Early Colleges Framework

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

Winston 3C

In this session, Kassie Mount, founding principal of Dare Early College, will highlight the intentional steps that her team has taken to create a cohesive, mission-driven culture. Participants will learn how the school established a clear mission and vision, used the Next Generation Early Colleges framework to develop School Improvement Team (SIT) goals and professional development priorities, and aligned staff-learning with these objectives. Kassie will also showcase how student opportunities were intentionally designed to reflect the mission and vision, creating a unified experience that shapes both academic outcomes and school culture. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to connect goals, professional learning, and student experiences in a meaningful, cohesive way.

Presenters

Kassie Mount

Principal, Dare Early College

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Winston 3C

Leadership

global Y

8:30am EDT

From First Hello to Final Goodbye: Building Student Belonging That Sticks

Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT

Winston 3C

Belonging changes everything. When students feel known, valued, and connected, they show up differently, and so does their learning. This session invites educators to reimagine how schools intentionally create a sense of belonging that begins before students ever arrive and grows stronger with each passing year. Participants will explore meaningful ways to welcome students, build shared traditions, and design experiences that connect students across grade levels and milestones. With a focus on purpose and continuity, this session offers inspiration and practical strategies to build systems where every student feels they truly belong from their first day to graduation and beyond.

Presenters

Vance Fishback

Principal, Cabarrus Early College of Technology

Vance Fishback is a veteran educational leader with more than 30 years of experience in public education with a strong background in Early College High School design, launch, and leadership. He has served the last 10 years as the Founding Principal of the Cabarrus Early College o... Read More →

Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
Winston 3C

Student Supports

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