Some of North Carolina’s top rated high schools are what are commonly referred to as early college high schools. These schools allow students to earn college credits while working towards graduation and are typically paired with a local community college or university. The North Carolina Senate now wants to end funding for them. This week we talk to early college leaders and advocates about the plan to defund them including the 2019 Principal of the Year, Matt Bristow-Smith, who leads one of these schools in Eastern North Carolina.

Guests:

• Matt Bristow-Smith, Principal, Edgecombe Early College High School, 2019 NC Principal of the Year

• Dr. Beth Glennie, Senior Education Research Analyst, RTI International

• Bharadwaj Chintalapati, Graduate, Wake Early College of Health and Sciences

• Aaron Penny, Graduate, Johnston County Early College Academy