All qualified Michigan public school and state-approved nonpublic school students have the ability to earn college credit while still attending high school – thanks to the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act and the Career and Technical Preparation Act, also known as the Dual Enrollment bills.
Students can get a jump start on college credit and reduce student loan debt. According to the Michigan Department of Education, this program should lead to no or very minimal cost to the student because “school districts are required to divert state funds (up to a certain percentage) to support Dual Enrollment for a student when all eligibility requirements are met. Eligible charges include tuition, mandatory course fees, materials fees (including books), and registration fees.”
Excessive student loan debt is a concern for high school students. Taking advantage of cost-saving options like dual enrollment will help reduce higher-education debt before it accumulates and also provide students, even those who wouldn’t qualify for the college credit available in Advanced Placement classes, an opportunity to get a head start on their goal of higher education.
Future Ed reports that “Dual enrollees appear to outnumber far the 1.1 million high school graduates in the class of 2022 who took at least one Advanced Placement exam.” They also report that according to fall 2021 community college enrollment data, 14% of community college students in Michigan took advantage of the state’s dual enrollment program.
Access to dual enrollment classes not only allows students to lower future student loans by having the state cover the cost of courses, but participation in this program can also increase student success. According to multiple studies, including a 2017 review by What Works Clearinghouse, a unit of the Department of Education that reviews education research, “research points to better student outcomes. Between similar students with comparable grades and family backgrounds, the student who takes a dual enrollment class is more likely to graduate high school, enroll in college, and earn a college degree.“
OPTIMISE Education offers resources to students to plan out their career in Special Education. These resources include Michigan college programs, scholarships, associations, storyteller videos, and more. Students can partake in Dual Enrollment while in high school to get a head start on their journey to becoming a Special Education Teacher, School Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, or other fields.
Learn more about Michigan’s Dual Enrollment program by visiting OPTIMISE Education, the Department of Education website or contacting your local school district or nearest state or community college.
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