Higher Education Act

Federal Policy /

While states have taken the lead in enacting concurrent enrollment policy, federal policy has encouraged states to pursue concurrent enrollment as a strategy for college and career readiness and success. NACEP worked with bipartisan congressional supporters to include dual and concurrent enrollment in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. Federal investment should be sustained these programs, as well as College Access Challenge Grants, which have successfully increased the number of youth pursuing postsecondary degrees that provide them with the skills necessary for success in today’s economy.

Perkins Career and Technical Education Act

Federal Perkins Act funds have provided considerable support for colleges and high schools to offer career and technical programs of study including concurrent enrollment as keystone courses in career pathways. The Act mandates that states include dual and concurrent enrollment programs in their 6-year state plans, and allows federal career and technical education funds to support professional development and equipment for dual and concurrent enrollment courses.

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR-UP)

Critical Foreign Language Education

After 9/11, Congress recognized the urgent need to increase the number of students studying critical foreign languages such as Arabic, Chinese and other Mideast and Asian languages. Foreign Language Partnerships offer K-16 programs of study leading to high levels of language proficiency at the postsecondary level, including dual enrollment programs offering college foreign language courses to high school students.