File: IHCDA - Concurrent Enrollment File: IHCDA - Concurrent EnrollmentThe Board believes that students who wish to pursue postsecondary level work while in high school should be permitted to do so. In accordance with this policy and accompanying regulation, high school students may receive course credit toward the fulfillment of high school graduation requirements for successful completion of approved postsecondary courses offered by institutions of higher education.
This policy and accompanying regulation do not apply to students seeking to enroll in postsecondary courses pursuant to the Accelerating Students through Concurrent Enrollment (ASCENT) program. Students seeking to enroll in the ASCENT program shall work with district administrators and meet the applicable requirements of the Concurrent Enrollment Programs Act (the Act).
Definitions
For purposes of this policy and accompanying regulation, the following definitions shall apply.
"Concurrent enrollment" means the simultaneous enrollment of a qualified student in a district high school and in one or more postsecondary courses at an institution of higher education.
"Qualified student" means a person who is less than 21 years of age and is enrolled in the 11th grade or higher grade level.
"Postsecondary course" means a course offered by an institution of higher education and includes coursework resulting in the acquisition of a certificate; an associate degree of applied sciences, general studies, arts, or science; and all baccalaureate degree programs.
"Institution of higher education" means:
a. A state university or college, community college, junior college, or area vocational school as described in title 23, C.R.S.;
b. A postsecondary career and technical education program that offers postsecondary courses and is approved by the state board for community colleges and occupational education pursuant to applicable state law; and
c. An educational institution operating in Colorado that meets the Act´s specified criteria.
Eligibility
Qualified students seeking to enroll in postsecondary courses at the district´s expense and receive high school credit for such courses shall follow the procedure accompanying this policy, see IHCDA-R.
Academic credit
Academic credit granted for postsecondary courses successfully completed by a qualified student shall count as high school credit toward the Board´s graduation requirements, unless such credit is denied.
High school credit shall be denied for postsecondary courses that do not meet or exceed the district´s standards. High school credit shall also be denied for a postsecondary course substantially similar to a course offered by the district, unless the qualified student´s enrollment in the postsecondary course is approved due to a scheduling conflict or other reason deemed legitimate by the district. Concurrent enrollment is not available for summer school.
Agreement with institution of higher education
When a qualified student seeks to enroll in postsecondary courses at an institution of higher education and receive high school credit for such courses, the district and the participating institution shall enter into a written cooperative agreement in accordance with the Act.
Payment of tuition
The district shall pay the tuition for up to 12 credit hours of postsecondary courses per academic term if the qualified student successfully completes the postsecondary course(s) and receives high school credit for the course(s) in order for the School District to receive full-time funding.
When a qualified student enrolls in at least three credit hours but less than 12 credit hours of postsecondary courses, the district only receives per pupil funding for this student on a part-time basis, unless the student is also enrolled in high school courses offered by the district. To enable the district to best serve its students and pay the qualified student´s tuition for postsecondary courses, a qualified student who enrolls in at least three credit hours but less than 12 credit hours of postsecondary courses shall be required to enroll in high school courses offered by the district. The number of high school courses required shall be based upon the total amount of hours necessary for the district to count and receive funding for the qualified student on a full-time basis.
The tuition paid by the district for the qualified student´s successful completion of an approved postsecondary course shall be in accordance with the Act and the district´s cooperative agreement with the institution of higher education. The institution of higher education may charge additional tuition and/or associated fees to the qualified student or the student´s parent/guardian in addition to the tuition paid by the district.
Prior to paying the tuition for any qualified student, the district shall require the student and the student´s parent to sign an agreement stating if the student fails or otherwise does not complete the postsecondary course for any reason without the consent of the principal of the high school in which the student is enrolled, the student and/or the student´s parent/guardian shall repay the amount of tuition paid by the district on the student´s behalf.
Transportation
The district shall not provide or pay for the qualified student's transportation to the institution of higher education.
Notice
Information about concurrent enrollment options shall be made available to high school students and their parents/guardians on an annual basis.
Adopted: June 23, 1998
Revised: July 23, 2015
LEGAL REFS.: C.R.S. 22-35-101 et seq. (Concurrent Enrollment Programs s Act)
1 CCR 301-86 (State Board of Education rules regarding the Administration of the Concurrent Enrollment Program)
CROSS REFS.: IJNDAB*, Instruction through Online Courses
IKF, Graduation Requirements