State officials coordinate high school college-credit courses

School boards must use several ways to decide whether students can enroll in advanced courses. The policy covers advanced or accelerated courses for students in grades nine through twelve, including honors, advanced placement, dual enrollment, and early college courses. Eligibility cannot rely only on past grades or courses. Any use of past academic performance must rely on evidence-based signs of how a student may perform. The policy deadline stated in this section was July 1, 2022.

The Education Commissioner must develop a model agreement for schools and colleges that offer these courses. The agreement is for secondary schools and postsecondary institutions offering dual or concurrent enrollment courses, or other postsecondary credit courses, to students in grades nine through twelve. The commissioner must develop the model agreement by July 1, 2026.

The Education Commissioner must appoint a coordinator to track courses and student results. The coordinator must track dual and concurrent enrollment courses across the state and student outcomes by school district, including completion rates and average grades. The commissioner must appoint the coordinator by January 1, 2027.

If money is available, the Education Commissioner must establish a grant program to reimburse schools or colleges for fees tied to high-need students' advanced courses. The program is for high-need high school students taking advanced courses, including dual and concurrent enrollment courses. A school board or college may apply for reimbursement. A college that receives a grant cannot charge parents for the covered course. The program applies for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and each fiscal year after that.

If money is available, the Education Commissioner may pay the State Education Resource Center up to $500,000 per fiscal year for support to school boards. The payments support local and regional school boards as they develop and expand dual credit courses. The Center must give priority to alliance districts. This authority applies for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and each fiscal year after that.