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. The concurrent class is on the high school campus taught by high school faculty.
"Qualified student" for concurrent classes means a person who is less than 21 years of age and is enrolled in the 9th grade or higher grade level. The student must also have a "PWR" (Post-Workforce Readiness) goal in their ICAP. (Individual Career Academic Plan). The student also must have completed the minimum course pre-requisites and all required assessments. A "Qualified student" for post-secondary options must meet the same as for concurrent classes but must be enrolled in the 10th grade or higher.
NOTE: The Act provides that students are eligible to enroll in postsecondary courses beginning in ninth grade. C.R.S. 22-35-103(15). The Board has discretion to allow concurrent enrollment beginning in ninth grade or to require students to be in a higher grade before enrolling in postsecondary courses at the district's expense.
"Postsecondary course" means a course offered by an instructor at an institution of higher education or an on-line format 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 or Postsecondary enrollment is not available for summer school or evening classes.
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.
NOTE: The Act created a Concurrent Enrollment Advisory Board. C.R.S. 22-35-107. This Board's responsibilities include advising and assisting school districts, BOCES and institutions of higher education in preparing cooperative agreements. The Concurrent Enrollment Advisory Board has approved model cooperative agreements between districts and institutions of higher education, which are available on the Colorado Department of Education's website.
Payment of tuition for Post-Secondary Courses
The district shall, in accordance to their plan of study, pay the tuition for up to 6 credit hours at the on campus rate of postsecondary courses successfully completed by a qualified student and for which the qualified student receives high school credit each semester. A student may apply for an additional 3 credit hours at on campus rate for courses directly corresponding to their ICAP. Approval for these additional credits must come from both the school counselor and principal. Tuition does not include books, lab fees, etc.
NOTE: Unlike prior state law, the Act does not require the district to pay for up to two postsecondary courses per academic term. Rather, the Act allows the Board to determine the total number of postsecondary credit hours for which the district will pay. The Act does limit the number of postsecondary credit hours in which a fifth year student may enroll, if the student is not participating in the ASCENT program, to a maximum of nine credit hours. See, C.R.S. 22-35-104(1)(d). However, the Board again has the discretion to lower the number of postsecondary credits in which a fifth year student may enroll at the district's expense. The Board should discuss this issue with the district's administration to determine the total number of postsecondary courses a qualified student may take at the district's expense and the number of postsecondary courses a qualified student may take per academic term. These amounts should then be inserted in the paragraph above.
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 student's parent/guardian to sign an agreement stating if the student fails or otherwise does not complete the postsecondary course for any reason without 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: November 15, 2011
Revised: June 29, 2015
LEGAL REFS.: C.R.S. 22-35-101 et seq. (Concurrent Enrollment Programs 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