Montgomery College, in partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools, has been selected as one of the first two institutions nationwide to replicate a groundbreaking Early College High School initiative pioneered by Portland Community College in Oregon.

Superintendent Jerry D. Weast and Board of Education President Patricia B. O’Neill will join Montgomery College President Charlene R. Nunley, County Executive Douglas M. Duncan, and other officials to announce the initiative on Monday, November 17, at 2:30 p.m. at Montgomery College, Rockville Campus (South Campus Instructional Building, Room 115).

The Gateway to College program serves young people between the age of 16-20 who have either stopped attending high school or are at risk of dropping out. It allows such students to participate in a personalized and intensive program that leads both to high school completion and attainment of an associate's degree or significant college credits.

Replication of the Portland program, including start-up funds for the local project, is supported through a multi-million dollar grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, along with the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Ford Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.