In a new exploration of dual enrollment, the Education Commission of the States calls on states to rethink their restrictive policies.
Dual enrollment can challenge students academically and increase the chances they’ll enroll in college—but many states close those opportunities to middle- and lower-performing students, the ECS argues.
In 17 states, students need a teacher recommendation to participate in dual-credit classes, while six states require a minimum grade-point average. Twenty-four states require students to meet some other kind of eligibility criteria. The report calls for “differentiated dual enrollment” in which high school students would be able to work their way up to college-level courses with support.
