Sacramento (CA) – Today, Assemblymember Chris Holden’s legislation to extend dual enrollment opportunities for California students, AB 102 passed the California State Assembly Committee on Higher Education. The legislation eliminates the sunset date for the College and Career Access Pathways, making the dual enrollment program that was first established by Assemblymember Holden in 2015 (AB 288) a permanent one.
“Dual enrollment increases the number of college graduates, reduces time and money spent for college, and helps close the achievement gap,” said Holden. “Making dual enrollment permanent means more school districts will be able to invest in creating these partnership agreements that benefit their students and prepare them for college.”
Dual and concurrent enrollment provides high school students access to college-level coursework. In some cases, students earn both high school and college credit for the same course depending on approval from local school and community college governing boards.
According to an October 2018 Career Ladders study, students who participate in dual enrollment at a community college during high school are more likely to graduate and enter college and more likely to complete a certificate, degree, or transfer. A key finding was that students most underrepresented in community colleges often benefit the most.
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