Have you ever wondered what you would do if you could have finished college a bit earlier and paid less in books, room and board, and tuition as a result?
The next generation gets a chance to earn college credit while in high school. Well, Washington D.C.’s next generation, that is.
D.C.’s Office of State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) has pushed the rock of accessible, high-quality education even further.
OSSE has ushered the era for D.C. high schoolers to take college credits at participating institutions of higher education (IHE). Issuing in the inception of thier college experience.
How did they accomplish this awesomeness?
Great quesiton! OSSE has worked with a local education agency (LEA) containing multiple groups who, along with OSSE, have put forward policy guidance and scholarships to serve the students.
For public and public charter school students, they have the DC Dual Enrollment Consortium Program. For the institutions of higher education partners, they have the Dual Enrollment Scholarship grant program.
Let’s dig in a bit more deep regarding what’s available for public and public charter students.
DC Dual Enrollment Consortium Program
Created in 2018, the DC Dual Enrollment Consortium Program was established by the local education agency and institutions of higher agencies.
These institutions of higher agencies comprised of:
- American University
- Bard College
- Bay Atlantic University
- Catholic University of America-Metropolitan School of Professional Studies
- Marymount University
- Montgomery College
- Northern Virginia Community College
- Trinity Washington University
- University of the District of Columbia-Flagship campus
And the local education agencies involved are:
- Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School
- Basis DC PCS
- Capital City PCS
- Carlos Rosario International PCS
- Cesar Chavez PCS for Public Policy: Parkside Campus
- Community College Preparatory Academy
- District of Columbia International School
- District of Columbia Public Schools
- EL Haynes PCS
- Friendship PCS
- Girls Global Academy
- Goodwill Excel Center
- IDEA PCS
- Kingsman Academy
- KIPP DC
- Latin American Youth Center Career Academy (LAYCCA) PCS
- Maya Angelou PCS
- Paul PCS
- Richard Wright PCS for Journalism and Media Arts
- Sojourner Truth Public Charter School
- The Next Step Public Charter School
- The SEED School of Washington, D.C.
- Thurgood Marshall Academy PCHS
- Washington Latin PCS
- Washington Leadership Academy PCS
The goal is to provide high-quality and easily accessible dual enrollment opportunities for DC students in public and public charter schools.
What his establishes is an expectation of what is required of them in college. Students get a taste of the rigors of college assignments and ethics from an earlier age.
This gives students a chance to explore certain fields of study. They can switch to another before attending college if they do not like the chosen study. You can imagine how much time and money this saves. Pure efficiency.
Better than giving them an early start with the college experience and helping them mature and develop, and be proud of the next stage in their life, they get to gain transferable college credit to any two-four year accredited colleges.
For free.
According to the University of Tulsa, 80 percent of students change their major in their college career.
Just the fact that students can discover the varieties of studies out there before ever matriculating into any particular school is just amazing.
One student may be directed to become an accountant but really wishes to become a journalist. They can take a journalist course and determine if this is something they are good at and should continue to pursue.
Or, perhaps, they can take an accountant program and see if they are adapt at the course or if they really want to pursue that particular study for the next 2-4 years.
Students need to be actively enrolled in an eligible DC public or public charter school with the goal of obtaining their high school diploma or GED.
The DC Dual Enrollment Consortium Program is free for students, parents, and guardians of the student. OSSE covers the cost of tuition and books up to two (3-credit) courses per semester.
How to Apply to the DC Dual Enrollment Consortium Program
Students need to submit a few things:
- A copy of your transcript from the ninth grade on up
- A copy of any of the following
- GED Ready
- ACT score
- SAT score
- Letter of recommendation from high school teacher
- Personal statement or essay
- Principal or Counselor Recommendation Form
- Signed Release of Information Form
Students can expect an acceptance response by May 2, 2023, from their LEA or school dual enrollment coordinator. By the way, decisions are determined by the college/IHEs.
More good news, students can participate more than once. They just have to apply each year. Availability is subject to first-come, first-served.
And again, students can take up to two (3-credit) courses.
Enrollment Scholarship Grant Program
Institutions of higher education and local education agencies can seek funding for dual enrollment via the OSSE.
For more information, click here.
