DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of the Secretary
PROPOSED
506 Policies for Dual Enrollment and Awarding Dual Credit
A. Type of Regulatory Action Required
New Regulation
B. Synopsis of Subject Matter of the Regulation
The Secretary of Education seeks the consent of the State Board of Education to promulgate a new regulation 14 DE Admin. Code 506 Policies for Dual Enrollment and Awarding Dual Credit. The purpose of this regulation is to ensure all reorganized local school districts, including vocational technical school districts have policies regarding dual enrollment and the awarding of dual credit to promote consistency and equity across the state. The Secretary and State Board of Education are in agreement with the purpose statement articulated by Jobs for the Future when they state in their 2008 report “On Ramp to College” that “dual enrollment and the awarding of dual credit is to serve as a bridge to college for students not already college bound and as a head start on college for those already committed to a postsecondary credential.”
Persons wishing to present their views regarding this matter may do so in writing by the close of business on or before September 5, 2008 to Susan Haberstroh, Education Associate, Regulation Review, Department of Education, at 401 Federal Street, Suite 2, Dover, Delaware 19901. A copy of this regulation is available from the above address or may be viewed at the Department of Education business office.
C. Impact Criteria
1. Will the new regulation help improve student achievement as measured against state achievement standards? The new regulation is intended to broaden and add rigor to curricula options available to high school students to improve student achievement.
2. Will the new regulation help ensure that all students receive an equitable education? The new regulation is written to ensure all students are made aware of dual credit and dual enrollment opportunities, thus providing for a more equitable education.
3. Will the new regulation help to ensure that all students’ health and safety are adequately protected? The new regulation is related to dual credit and dual enrollment and does not specifically address students’ health and safety.
4. Will the new regulation help to ensure that all students’ legal rights are respected? The new regulation is written to ensure all students legal rights are respected as related to dual credit and dual enrollment opportunities.
5. Will the new regulation preserve the necessary authority and flexibility of decision making at the local board and school level? The authority and flexibility of decision continues to be with local school districts; however, input will be needed from the postsecondary institutions as policies are developed.
6. Will the new regulation place unnecessary reporting or administrative requirements or mandates upon decision makers at the local board and school levels? Because dual enrollment and the awarding of dual credit already exists in most cases, this regulation serves to ensure consistency and equity across the state.
7. Will the decision making authority and accountability for addressing the subject to be regulated be placed in the same entity? The decision making authority and accountability for addressing dual enrollment and dual credit remains the with the district or schools and the postsecondary institutions.
8. Will the new regulation be consistent with and not an impediment to the implementation of other state educational policies, in particular to state educational policies addressing achievement in the core academic subjects of mathematics, science, language arts and social studies? The new regulation is consistent with and not an impediment to the implementation of other state educational policies, in particular to state educational policies addressing achievement in the core academic subjects of mathematics, science, language arts and social studies. This regulation further supports the educational policies.
9. Is there a less burdensome method for addressing the purpose of the regulation? There is not a less burdensome method for addressing dual enrollment and the awarding of dual credit that ensures consistency and equity across the state.
10. What is the cost to the State and to the local school boards of compliance with the regulation? There may be costs for dual enrollment and the awarding of dual credit that parents or local school boards will incur. At this time, the costs cannot be determined and the district policies will address funding sources as they become known and available.
506 Policies for Dual Enrollment and Awarding Dual Credit
The purpose of this regulation is to ensure all reorganized local school districts, including vocational technical school districts have policies regarding dual enrollment and the awarding of dual credit to promote consistency and equity across the state.
For purposes of this regulation the definitions in 14 DE Admin. Code 505 apply. Additional definitions for purposes of this regulation include the following:
“Accredited Postsecondary Institution” means a regionally accredited higher education institution.
“Articulation Agreement” means the agreement between the Accredited Postsecondary Institution and school district, school or charter school that specifies, at a minimum, student eligibility and participation requirements, the course syllabus, the expected course competencies, grading policy, attendance policy, and conditions for awarding Dual Credit. Further provided, student eligibility and participation requirements shall be based on multiple indicators of readiness such as, but not limited, to a combination of tests, course grades, teacher recommendations or portfolios.
“Dual Credit” means the credit awarded at both the high school and postsecondary levels.
"Dual Credit Course" means a course for which a student may receive both high school credit towards graduation and postsecondary credit. The course may be taken in a variety of settings such as in a high school, on a postsecondary institution campus, or electronically. Examples of a dual credit course include Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and Tech Prep courses.
“Dual Enrollment” means simultaneous enrollment in both a high school and an Accredited Postsecondary Institution.
“Dual Enrollment Course” means a course for which a student may receive both high school credit towards graduation and postsecondary credit while simultaneously registered at both the high school and the Accredited Postsecondary Institution.
“Dual Enrollment Instructor” or “Instructor” means an individual teaching a Dual Enrollment Course who meets the requirements of a faculty member or adjunct faculty member at the credit granting Accredited Postsecondary Institution.
“Principal or principal’s designee” means the person at the high school the local school district board of education or superintendent, or charter school board, if applicable, assigns to approve the courses that may result in credit for that high school.
3.1 Local school districts shall develop policies for Dual Enrollment and the awarding of Dual Credit that at a minimum meet the following criteria:
3.1.1 All courses for which dual credit is awarded shall incorporate any applicable state content standards;
3.1.2 All courses for which dual credit is awarded shall be taken at or through an Articulation Agreement with an Accredited Postsecondary Institution except for AP or IB courses;
3.1.3 All students shall be provided information regarding dual enrollment and the awarding of dual credit opportunities;
3.1.4 Those students eligible as determined in the Articulation Agreement shall have access to dual credit and dual enrollment courses;
3.1.5 Funding sources such as Tech Prep, College Board waivers or other grants shall be identified as well as the procedures for applying and the procedures for the awarding of such funds or waivers. No student shall be denied access to dual credit or dual enrollment courses because of the student’s or family’s inability to pay;
3.1.6 Students shall have multiple points of access for dual credit and dual enrollment course(s) including, but not limited to, course(s) offered on the high school campus, course(s) offered on the postsecondary institution campus, course(s) offered online, or a combination of any of the above;
3.1.7 All courses for which Dual Credit is awarded through an Accredited Postsecondary Institution shall be taught by an approved Dual Credit Instructor;
3.1.8 Any course that offers Dual Credit shall have the prior approval for the awarding of Dual Credit by the principal or the principal’s designee of the high school in which the credit is to be awarded; and
3.1.9 Dual enrollment and dual credit shall be included in the Student Success Plan (SSP), as required in 14 DE Admin. Code 505, for students electing to participate.
4.1 All Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses used for purposes of Dual Credit shall meet the requirements of their respective program authorizers.
4.1.1 Postsecondary credit for Advanced Placement or IB courses shall be at the discretion of the credit granting Accredited Postsecondary Institution.
4.2 For Tech Prep courses, the Accredited Postsecondary Institution shall ensure the student’s attainment of competencies as outlined in the Articulation Agreement between the high school and Accredited Postsecondary Institution.
4.3 All courses for which Dual Credit is granted shall meet the requirements of the sponsoring Accredited Postsecondary Institution as outlined in the Articulation Agreement.
5.1 The school shall indicate on a student’s high school transcript any Dual Enrollment Courses taken and any courses for which Dual Credit has been granted.
6.1 Each public school district shall have an electronic copy of its current policy for dual enrollment and awarding dual credit on file with the Department of Education.
6.2 Each public school district shall provide an electronic copy of any dual enrollment and dual credit policy within ninety (90) days of such revision(s) including revisions made as a result of changes to Federal, state or local law, regulations, guidance or policies.
7.1 A secondary charter school that chooses to offer Dual Enrollment or Dual Credit opportunities shall be subject to the provisions of this regulation.
12 DE Reg. 110 (08/01/08)
