This document discusses barriers to equitable access to dual enrollment programs. It notes that dual enrollment programs often require high GPAs, creating barriers for low-income students with other qualifications. Costs of courses and lack of transportation or internet access can also prevent low-income families from participating. The document proposes that community partnerships could help increase equity by providing transportation, tutoring, counseling and assisting with applications, visits, financial aid awareness and reducing support burdens for low-income students.

1. EQUITY IN EARLY
COLLEGE ACCESS
Dual enrollment is a "warm up" that provides
an authentic college experience. Students
take college level academic content, meet
faculty and matriculated college students,
and become acquainted with support
services available on campus. Students can
envision themselves as a college student
through early access.
HOW DOES
IT WORK?
- Dual enrollment programs often have high GPA
requirements, inadvertently creating a barrier to low-income
students with other meaningful qualifications
- Dual enrollment programs cost, on average, 1/3 of a college
course. Still, that amount creates a barrier for low-income
families.
- Transportation to and from campus, and internet access
requirements for online/hybrid courses are also barriers
BARRIERS TO EARLY ACCESS
Students who take courses for
college credit while in high
school (dual enrollment) have a
higher rate of high school
completion, higher college
retention rates and higher
college completion rates
(Hughes, et al, 2012).
According to the 2015 American
Community Survey, 14.5 million (19.7%) of
children under the age of 18 live in
poverty in the United States.
Low-income working families are those
earning less than twice the federal poverty
line.
In 2009, 84.2% of high to
moderate income students enroll in
college compared to 54.1% of
low-income students (Taylor, 2011)
In 2013, bachelor's degree completion
for higher income students was 60.7%
while only 14.5% for low-income
students (Lauff and Ingels, 2014).
Community partners can
provide transportation to
campus and assist with
finding grants/scholarships
WHY DUAL
ENROLLMENT?
INCREASING EQUITY THROUGH
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Community partners can
offer tutoring, counseling,
college application and
visitation assistance and
financial aid awareness
Community partners in
direct contact with colleges
can reduce the support
burden and increase equity
for low-income students