Dual enrollment programs allow high school students to receive both high school and college credit for taking a college-level course. A 2007 study from the Community College Research Center (CCRC) concluded that dual enrollment programs have a positive effect on high school graduation rates, college enrollment rates, college grades, and progress toward obtaining a college degree. This article examines dual enrollment programs and the benefits they afford.
The number of dual admission programs has increased significantly over the past few years. According to the U.S. Department of Education, about 1.2 million students participated in dual enrollment programs during the 2002-03 academic year. Approximately 71 percent of public high schools offered dual enrollment programs.
More than half of all colleges and universities allowed high school students to take classes for college credit. Community colleges are enthusiastic sponsors of dual enrollment programs. About 98 percent of public community colleges had dual enrollment programs in 2002-03. For public four-year universities, the number is 77 percent. Private community colleges and four-year institutions offer fewer dual enrollment opportunities than their public counterparts.
How Do Dual Enrollment Programs Work?
The requirements of dual admission programs vary considerably nationwide. The following characteristics are common:
● Only certain lower-level college courses are approved for dual credit. Remedial classes, physical education, and music courses are typically excluded from the programs.
● Academic standards are imposed on participants, including minimum grade point averages and standardized test scores.
● Students receive both credit toward high school graduation and college credit for approved courses.
● Courses may be offered on the high school campus, on the college campus, or online.
● Some form of reduced costs, such as free tuition and textbooks, is available for the college courses.
● Most programs limit the participating students to high school juniors and seniors.
● Traditionally, dual enrollment programs were directed toward the standard courses for a two-year or four-year college degree. Recently, community colleges have increasingly implemented programs with a career or technical/vocational focus.
The extent of assistance with tuition and other college expenses varies. In some programs, students pay no tuition to the college and receive free textbooks. Another option is that the college offers a reduced fee for each credit hour taken by a student in the program. Some program offer grants to students to cover their tuition costs. As college tuition costs rise and student assistance decreases, any savings is going to be a welcome benefit for most college-bound students.
Most students participate in dual enrollment programs offered by a local college in close proximity to their homes and high schools. The participating college guarantees that it will accept the courses for college credit. If, however, a student plans to attend another college or university, then the student should confirm that the other institution will accept transfers of the credits from the local college in advance of taking the courses.
Advantages of Dual Enrollment
There are numerous benefits associated with participating in dual enrollment programs.
● Offsets some college expenses
● Shortens the time to get a degree
● Allows qualified students to reduce their course load when they attend college full time
● Avoids duplication in course content
● Offers more challenging curricula for good students
● Eases the transition from high school to college
● Student more likely to go on to get a degree
Not all the benefits of dual enrollment apply to every student. For example, a high school student who will have to work full-time while attending college will value both the money and time savings. Gifted students may become bored with high school courses and welcome the opportunity to study at a more advanced level. Low-income students are more likely to attend college if they participate in a dual enrollment program.
Who Should Participate in Dual Enrollment Programs?
There are two schools of thought about which high school students are better served by dual enrollment programs. Traditionally, participation in dual enrollment programs has been limited to high-performing students with minimum grade point averages and standardized test scores. A GPA of 3.0 is a common cut-off point for dual enrollment programs. The thought is that better students will be more prepared to handle the demands of a college-level curriculum.
A competing viewpoint is that low-performing students should be allowed to enroll in the programs. The 2007 CCRC study concluded that high school students from a broad range of academic standings and backgrounds benefitted from taking college courses. In fact, the study showed that lower-income students tended to derive even greater benefits from the programs than their higher-income peers. For the 2002-2003 academic year, however, only five percent of higher education institutions with dual enrollment programs allowed at-risk students to participate.
The states have taken different approaches to eligibility for dual admission programs. In
Notwithstanding the benefits of dual admission programs, not every child is a candidate for dual admission. A parent must evaluate if a child is academically and emotionally ready to take a college-level course. For example, even if a program accepts high school juniors, the typical junior is probably not mature enough to take college courses and will have plenty of time in his or her senior year to take advantage of the program. If the courses are too difficult or too intense for the high school student, the experience may discourage him or her from going on to college. Moreover, the dual enrollment courses will become part of the child's academic records.
Conclusion
If you think dual admission could be right for your child, check into your school's requirements immediately. High school students who are interested in dual enrollment programs must apply for acceptance before the deadline for submitting applications. They may have to reapply every term or semester. Your child's guidance counselor can answer any questions you or your child may have about the program.
Resources:
The Postsecondary Achievement of Participants in Dual Enrollment: An analysis of Student Outcomes in Two States, Melinda Mechur Karp, Juan Carlos Calcagno, Katherine L. Hughes, Dong Wook, Thomas R. Bailey (Oct. 2007)
http://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/Publication.asp?UID=547
The Benefits of Dual Enrollment (Oct. 17, 2007)
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/10/17/dualenroll
Dual Enrollment: Get a jump start on college,
http://phcc.edu/academics/dualenrollment/
High School Students Using Dual Enrollment Programs to Earn College Credits, New Reports Say (April 6, 2005)
http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2005/04/04062005a.html
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