Next month, more than 15,000 members of Maine’s Class of 2005 will walk across stages to receive their high school diplomas. If we could paint them a picture of their lives 10 years from now, what would it look like?

According to the U.S. Census, in 2015 when these young adults are planning their 10th reunion, half will be married, 40 percent will own homes and many will have started families. In other words well over 7,000 will have taken on substantial responsibilities and put down roots.

But there will be stark differences among them based on a critical decision they make this year: whether or not they will go to college. If past trends hold true, only 55 percent will go to college next fall. The other 45 percent – roughly 6,800 students – will not go to college, facing a future of far more limited opportunities, and income prospects, than their peers who do go on.

This group – those students who do not go on to college – merits intense public policy attention. With projections showing a 15 percent drop in high school-age students, and an aging work force, Maine employers will need every possible new entrant to the work force. Even today there are shortages in health care, education, high-skill construction trades and many other fields. A survey by the Maine State Chamber shows that half of their member-employers have to look out of state for qualified workers. With jobs requiring a college degree growing at twice the rate of low-skill jobs, the “education gap” will only increase.

If we can reverse Maine’s low college-going rates – which we believe is absolutely within our power to do – we can achieve multiple benefits for our state. We can help more employers prosper; strengthen our tax base; lessen the demand on social services; and raise income levels to the benefit of our citizens and the families they support. At the same time, we can offer more promising prospects to our youth who want to make a life and future in Maine – and raise the educational bar for future generations.

If Maine is to raise the bar, we must recognize and address the distinct needs of those students who are not going to college yet who have academic potential. These students generally have not saved or planned for college and sometimes need additional preparation for college-level coursework. They are often intimidated by the application process and don’t “see” themselves as college students. For many, a community college offers an affordable and less intimidating place to start; in fact, some may show up at a community college later in life, having struggled to earn a living without a college degree.

A program launched in 2002 as a pilot in 25 Maine high schools was designed to engage this very group of students. The program – Early College for ME – has had stunning results, and should send a message to all of Maine that our hopes and dreams for Maine youth are not that difficult to achieve.

Early College for ME helps students prepare for, pay for and succeed in a community college. Once enrolled, they can pursue a career field or use their degree as a stepping stone to a four-year college or university.

The program offers:

. pre-college testing and advising during the junior year so students can better utilize the senior year to get ready for college;

. early college courses during senior year, to gain exposure to college;

. help with the college admissions and financial aid processes;

. up to $2,000 in community college scholarships (nearly half of tuition), and;

. staff support through the first, often tenuous, years of college.

This final piece is crucial, as far too many students find themselves overwhelmed and discouraged – and hence don’t return – after their first semester or two of college.

Results so far have been remarkable: 76 percent of the first class of Early College students had a successful outcome in their first year in college. One in four EC students earned academic honors in college last fall; and 42 percent earned GPAs of 3.0 or higher.

While there are a number of “early college” concepts being tested in Maine – and many of great value – high schools have told us that Early College for ME is the most comprehensive. It also builds on the existing infrastructure of our high schools and community colleges.

For these reasons, Gov. Baldacci has targeted Early College for ME for expansion statewide. We share his belief that it has the potential to move us far toward his goal of raising Maine’s high school to college rate to 70 percent by 2010.

By 2008, Early College for ME will be available in every publicly funded school and is ultimately projected to serve 2,000 students a year – half in high school and half in college.

While the potential to change Maine trends and raise the educational bar is exciting, the real magic of this program lies in the individual stories as we watch the futures of Maine youth unfold to new possibilities.

The facts are clear. Maine needs far more of its young people to go to college if it is to be successful economically, and every young person with academic potential deserves a chance at college.

Susan Gendron is commissioner of the Maine Department of Education. John Fitzsimmons is president of the Maine Community College System.