ERIC Number: ED561909
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Jun
Pages: 11
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Dual Enrollment: A Strategy to Improve College-Going and College Completion among Rural Students
Zinth, Jennifer Dounay
Education Commission of the States
Research shows that students who participate in dual enrollment are more likely than their peers to finish high school, enter college and complete a degree. This means dual enrollment can greatly benefit students in rural areas, which report lower college-going and postsecondary attainment rates than other locales. However, rural areas face unique challenges in providing high-quality dual enrollment programs: (1) Securing qualified instructors, either high school teachers who have the qualifications to lead college-level courses or postsecondary instructors; (2) Covering program costs, as many rural districts face declines in enrollment and the funding that follows students in many states; and (3) Addressing program logistics, including the challenges of offering a course to a small number of students and offering career/technical education coursework when high schools may not have the latest technical equipment but the nearest community college is a long drive away. This report will discuss how states are rising to these challenges, including these examples: (1) A public-private partnership in Ohio includes funding to help eight colleges and universities create and administer an 18-month master's degree with a teacher-friendly schedule; (2) Texas authorizes workforce investment funds to support dual enrollment programs targeted to address the needs of high-demand fields; and (3) Ten states authorize a course to be offered at a location other than a high school or college, easing travel burdens. This includes Illinois and Wyoming. A final section will address the opportunities posed by delivering dual enrollment through tribal colleges. State policies are often silent on the inclusion of tribal colleges in dual enrollment programs. However, one state, New Mexico, created a tribal college dual credit program fund to address this issue.
Descriptors: Dual Enrollment, Career Education, Technical Education, Community Colleges, Rural Areas, Educational Benefits, Educational Attainment, Educational Quality, Declining Enrollment, Educational Finance, Partnerships in Education, Masters Programs, Scheduling, Program Descriptions, Travel, Tribally Controlled Education, State Policy, Low Income, Costs, College Attendance, Financial Support, Scholarships, Distance Education
Education Commission of the States. ECS Distribution Center, 700 Broadway Suite 1200, Denver, CO 80203-3460. Tel: 303-299-3692; Fax: 303-296-8332; e-mail: ecs@ecs.org; Web site: http://www.ecs.org
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Two Year Colleges; Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Education Commission of the States
Identifiers - Location: United States
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A