Article: Are We Educating All of Our Children? No!   School to Career Program for High School

 Massachusetts: There are six Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) throughout Massachusetts. The closest center to the Valley is ED Central, 484 Main Street, Suite 500,Worcester 01608. The phone is 508-754-6829, tollfree at 877-965-1212, fax 508-797-0069. EOC can help you decide what career to study, where to study, how to apply for financial aid and help to manage family demands and college simultaneously.

The staff is multi-lingual  and the focus is on low income, first generational potential college students seeking post-secondary education or training. This is a federally funded TRIO program under the auspices of the Worcester Consortium.

Job Corps guides young people into skilled careers. There is a Job Corps in Grafton, MA. 

The Consortium of Colleges in Worcester County is comprised of thirteen colleges, one of which is the graduate veterinary school, Tufts Veterinary School in Grafton. The total impact of these colleges upon the Commonwealth is over $2.5 billion each year. They include:  Anna Maria College, Assumption College, Atlantic Union College, Becker College, Clark University, College of the Holy Cross, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Nichols College, Quinsigamond Community College, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester State College, WPI or independent Massachusetts colleges or peruse most colleges by state. Online classes are now available from several Mass colleges. MassInc's Look Into Public Colleges and MCAS is helpful, too.

Recently, the Worcester Research Bureau studied the possible 

Rhode Island:  Adult Basic Education /  New England On Line.

Colleges and Universities

Community College of RI (CCRI)
Brown University
Bryant College
Johnson and Wales University (J&W)
New England Institute of Technology
Providence College (PC)
Rhode Island College (RIC)
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
Roger Williams University
Salve Regina University
U.S. Naval War College
University of Rhode Island (URI)
University of Rhode Island, College of Continuing Education

A New England Program which offers reduced tuitions out of state for specific majors offers a wonderful opportunity in the 78 public colleges throughout New England. For instance, a Mass student majoring in biomedical engineering (which is not offered in a Massachusetts public school) can study at URI at a tuition only a little above a RI resident. This is often not revealed by guidance counselors due to the overwhelming demands of school life.

To get started, schedule your SAT, ACT or GRE at Collegeboard and plan your finances, search for scholarships and map your future with these helpful resources (all included on the Mass Board of Higher Ed Literature): Teri, MEFA, OSFA, College is Possible, Mapping your Future, Mass Mentor,  testing services, financial planning, scholarship help and even apply for college or federal financial aid (FAFSA) online. College concerns  campus safety records or character and ethics statements,too. Into sports? Check out college sports. Lastly, examine the revered US News & World Report college rankings.

  Onto graduate schools, Boston higher ed, professional advancement courses, or courses at Sloan School of Mgmt or Consortium for Worker Education. Recently, UMass  opened a satellite Masters business degree program in Westboro. State Government - Work and Educational Resources or catch up with old military buddies or high school friends and alumni.  Join the Marines with Blackstone Valley recruiters.

  CAREERS - there are plenty of them at America’s Job Bank, Division of Employment, Boston Globe, Providence Journal, Monsterboard, Worcester Telegram,  freelance options. Women -get local support from Center for Woman Entrpreneurs.

Other vocational, training and career resources include: RI Career Services  Literacy/Libraries