Education Commission of the States Reports

This database indicates whether state policy specifies where dual enrollment courses may be offered — at postsecondary institutions only, or also at high schools, online or at third-party locations.

"Not specified" indicates that state policy does not provide whether courses may be offered at the high school, at the high school and postsecondary institution, or at a third-party location. Some states with "not specified" status also provide online dual enrollment courses.

Why does it matter?

Programs on postsecondary campuses are good exposure, especially for students who would be the first in their family to attend college.

The opportunity to mix with more mature students on a college campus can be beneficial, as can the ability to be surrounded by students who want to learn, and aren't afraid to be smart.

Transportation to and from postsecondary campuses can be an issue.

Some express concern that dual enrollment courses taught in high schools by high school teachers may not meet the same level of rigor as courses taught by postsecondary faculty on postsecondary campuses.

Highlights

Two states specify that dual enrollment courses may be offered only on postsecondary campuses.

Thirty states explicitly authorize dual enrollment courses to be taught in high schools or on postsecondary campuses.

In policy or practice, at least 17 states provide dual enrollment courses online.

Ten states allow dual enrollment courses to be offered at "other" physical locations than the high school or postsecondary campus.

Policies in 18 states do not specify where dual enrollment courses may be offered.

Note: This database does not include information about Tech Prep or early/middle college high school programs. Information about such programs is included in the ECS career/technical education and early/middle college high school databases.

Sources for all data points are accessible through this link.

Methodology: This information was collected from state statutes, rules and regulations, and state education agency Web sites, and will be updated as new policies and programs are enacted.

Last updated: December 2, 2008

This database was compiled by Jennifer Dounay, project manager, ECS High School Policy Center. For questions, additions or corrections: 303.299.3689 or jdounay@ecs.org.

	Where courses provided
Alabama	At high school At postsecondary institution
Alaska	Not specified
Arizona	At high school At postsecondary institution
Arkansas	Not specified
California	At high school At postsecondary institution
Colorado	At high school Notes/Citation: Fast Tracks courses may be offered at the high school or postsecondary institution. Not specified Notes/Citation: For Postsecondary Enrollment Options At postsecondary institution
Connecticut	At high school At postsecondary institution
Delaware	At high school Notes/Citation: Districts must offer multiple points of access to dual enrollment courses, including courses offered at the high school, at the postsecondary campus, online, or a combination of any of the above. At postsecondary institution Virtual program
District of Columbia	Not specified
Florida	At high school Notes/Citation: Legislation requires local boards to consider strategies and programs to meet demand for dual enrollment and other advanced courses, and provide access to dual enrollment on the high school campus whenever possible. At postsecondary institution
Georgia	At postsecondary institution
Hawaii	Not specified
Idaho	At high school At postsecondary institution Virtual program Notes/Citation: Legislation provides that the Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA) must work with institutions of higher education to provide dual credit coursework. Other
Illinois	At high school At postsecondary institution Other
Indiana	At high school Notes/Citation: For Postsecondary Enrollment Program and Double Up for College At postsecondary institution Notes/Citation: For Postsecondary Enrollment Program, Double Up for College and Fast Track to College Virtual program Notes/Citation: For Postsecondary Enrollment Program and Double Up for College
Iowa	At high school At postsecondary institution Virtual program Other Notes/Citation: Courses may be offered through regional and career academies. A regional academy is a district-established program to which multiple school districts send students in grades 9-12, and which may include internet-based coursework and courses delivered via the Iowa communications network. A regional academy must offer advanced level courses, and may offer career and technical courses.A regional academy course cannot qualify as a concurrent enrollment course. A career academy course may qualify as a concurrent enrollment course if it meets the requirements of section 261E.7.
Kansas	At high school At postsecondary institution
Kentucky	Not specified
Louisiana	At high school Notes/Citation: For TOPS Tech Early Start and Early Start At postsecondary institution Notes/Citation: For TOPS Tech Early Start and Early Start Virtual program Notes/Citation: As of September 2008, the Louisiana Virtual School offers dual enrollment American history, English IV, English literature, fine arts survey, advanced math (Math 1020 and Math 1090) Other Notes/Citation: For traditional dual enrollment: Courses may be provided at "an appropriate neutral setting"
Maine	Not specified
Maryland	Not specified
Massachusetts	Not specified
Michigan	Not specified Virtual program Notes/Citation: The Michigan virtual high school is to "act as a broker for college level equivalent courses ... and dual enrollment courses from postsecondary education institutions." Virtual high school offerings must include dual enrollment opportunities.
Minnesota	At high school At postsecondary institution Other
Mississippi	At high school At postsecondary institution Virtual program
Missouri	At high school At postsecondary institution
Montana	At high school At postsecondary institution Other
Nebraska	Not specified Virtual program
Nevada	At high school At postsecondary institution Virtual program
New Hampshire	Not specified
New Jersey	At high school At postsecondary institution
New Mexico	At high school At postsecondary institution Virtual program Other Notes/Citation: Courses may be provided at "off-campus centers"
New York	Not specified
North Carolina	At high school Notes/Citation: For Huskins, although exceptions exist At postsecondary institution Notes/Citation: For Concurrent Enrollment, although exceptions exist
North Dakota	At high school At postsecondary institution Virtual program
Ohio	Not specified Virtual program Notes/Citation: For Seniors to Sophomores, provided online courses are available to regular college students
Oklahoma	At high school At postsecondary institution Virtual program
Oregon	Not specified Virtual program
Pennsylvania	Not specified
Rhode Island	Not specified
South Carolina	At high school At postsecondary institution Virtual program
South Dakota	At high school Notes/Citation: One university has sole responsibility for offering dual credit classes in high schools, so as to ensure that student outcomes are at the college level. At postsecondary institution Virtual program
Tennessee	At high school At postsecondary institution Virtual program
Texas	At high school At postsecondary institution Virtual program Notes/Citation: Courses offered electronically must comply with the higher education coordinating board's adopted "Principles of Good Practice for Courses Offered Electronically."
Utah	Not specified Notes/Citation: Rule provides that courses must be "offered at the most appropriate location" and that the curriculum and delivery system must "be designed and implemented to take full advantage of the most current available educational technology."
Vermont	Not specified
Virginia	At high school Notes/Citation: For partnerships between high schools and community colleges. Dual enrollment courses are offered primarily at the participating high schools. Not specified Notes/Citation: For dual enrollment opportunities not covered by partnerships between high schools and community colleges. Courses that are not covered by the Virginia Plan for Dual Enrollment are termed "concurrent enrollment". At postsecondary institution Notes/Citation: For partnerships between high schools and community colleges. While dual enrollment courses are typically offered at the participating high school, in some cases in rural areas, high school students are transported to the college for instruction.
Washington	Not specified Virtual program Notes/Citation: The Web site of the office of the superintendent of public instruction must post information on online programs allowing high school students to earn college credit. High schools must ensure that teachers and counselors have information about online programs to earn college credit, including Running Start, and are able to assist students and parents in accessing this information. High schools must ensure that students and parents have opportunities to learn about online programs that allow students to earn college credit.
West Virginia	At high school At postsecondary institution
Wisconsin	At postsecondary institution Notes/Citation: The purpose of the Youth Options program is not to give students a "leg up" on college credits, but to allow them to take advanced coursework not available through their high school.
Wyoming	At high school At postsecondary institution Other Notes/Citation: Off-[postsecondary]campus center, higher education center that is part of a college outreach cooperative education services agreement entered into by one or more community college districts and one or more school districts, facility other than a high school maintained by the participating district.