Definition Of Early College High Schools

Joint Budget Committee. Under the existing statute, an early college is not subject to the requirements of the 'Concurrent Enrollment Programs Act'. The bill amends the definition of 'early college' to specify that an early college must provide only a curriculum that is designed to be completed within 4 years and includes concurrent enrollment in high school and postsecondary courses such that, when a student completes the curriculum, the student has attained a high school diploma and a postsecondary credential or at least 60 credit hours toward completion of a postsecondary credential. The state board of education must review all of the schools that it has designated as early colleges to ensure that each school meets the revised definition. A school that does not meet the revised definition will no longer be designated as an early college. The bill allows a school that is designated as an early college prior to passage of the bill to continue to receive funding through the school finance formula for students who, after completing 4 years of high school at an early college, enroll in postsecondary courses for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 school years. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More