Dual Enrollment Legislation Passes Assembly Higher Education Committee

Assemblymember Chris Holden’s legislation to extend dual enrollment opportunities for California students passed the Assembly Committee on Higher Education this week.

The legislation, Assembly Bill 102, eliminates the sunset date for the College and Career Access Pathways, making the dual enrollment program that was first established by Holden in 2015, AB 288, permanent.

“Dual enrollment increases the number of college graduates, reduces time and money spent for college, and helps close the achievement gap,” said Holden, a Democrat representing Pasadena, in a prepared statement.

“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,” he said.

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.

Pasadena City College currently offers dual enrollment classes in several school districts, including the Pasadena Unified School District.

According to an October 2018 Career Ladders study, students who participated in dual enrollment at a community college during high school were 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.