Dual Credit Frequently Asked Questions
Disclaimer:
Questions and answers on this page are for general guidance and do not have any formal legal bearing. The board of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board adopted amendments to rules under Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 4, Subchapter C & D, governing the implementation of the Texas Success Initiative and Dual Credit Partnerships Between Secondary Schools and Texas Public Colleges at the April 25, 2024 board meeting.
Below are questions and answers related to Dual Credit Partnerships Between Secondary Schools and Texas Public Colleges rules, effective May 16, 2024.
The Board clarified in Rule that a high school student who is not degree seeking is not required to be TSI-met, i.e. college ready to attempt dual credit. (Rule 4.52(b)(4)). An institution is prohibited from making these students be college ready. (Rule 4.54(e)). The Board added a definition for non-degree seeking under Rule 4.53(8):
Non-Degree-Seeking Student–A student who has not filed a degree plan with an institution of higher education and is not required to do so pursuant to Texas Education Code, §51.9685.
Because all high school students are now classified as degree-seeking or non-degree seeking, those who are non-degree seeking need not be TSI met and those who are degree-seeking must be college ready. The statutes neither contained nor required separate standards for a student to enroll in a dual credit course. The Board repealed Rule 4.85(b)(1)(2) because a non-degree seeking high school student is not required to be TSI met. No separate, alternative standards are necessary.
Additional exemptions to demonstrating college readiness are:
(B) demonstrates that he or she is exempt under the provisions of the Texas Success Initiative as set forth in §4.54 of this chapter (relating to Exemption);
(C) demonstrates college readiness by achieving the minimum passing standards under the provisions of the Texas Success Initiative as set forth in §4.57 of this chapter (relating to Texas Success Initiative Assessment College Readiness Standards) on relevant section(s) of an assessment instrument approved by the Board as set forth in §4.56 of this chapter (relating to Assessment Instrument); or
(D) Meets the eligibility requirements for a Texas First Diploma under §21.52 of this title (relating to Eligibility for Texas First Diploma).
Posted 10/16/2024
The new dual credit rules became effective May 16, 2024. There is no phase in period language included in the new rules. Dual credit course enrollments that occurred prior to May 16, 2024, should have followed the requirements of the previous rules. Enrollments that occur after the effective date of the new dual credit rules must follow the new requirements.
Posted 10/16/2024
Yes, you can under TAC 4.85(b)(1)(A).
Posted 10/16/2024
Only the following types of courses can be offered for dual credit:
(A) The course is offered pursuant to an agreement under §4.84 of this subchapter (relating to Institutional Agreements).
(B) A course for which the student may earn one or more of the following types of credit:
(i) joint high school and junior college credit under Education Code, §130.008, or
(ii) another course offered by an institution of higher education, for which a high school student may earn semester credit hours or equivalent of semester credit hours toward satisfaction of:
(I) a course defined in paragraph (3) of this section that satisfies a requirement necessary to obtain an industry-recognized credential, certificate, or an associate degree;
(II) a foreign language requirement at an institution of higher education;
(III) a requirement in the core curriculum, as that term is defined by Education Code, §61.821, at an institution of higher education; or
(IV) a requirement in a field of study curriculum developed by the Coordinating Board under Education Code, §61.823.
Posted 10/16/2024
An institution may not offer a remedial or developmental education course for dual credit. An institution may choose how to offer supplemental content as part of a College Connect Course pursuant to Rule 4.86(d)(2), but developmental education courses are not fundable dual credit courses.
(4) An institution may not offer a remedial or developmental education course for dual credit. This limitation does not prohibit an institution from offering a dual credit course that incorporates Non-Course-Based College Readiness content or other academic support designed to increase the likelihood of student success in the college course, including any course offered under §4.86 of this subchapter (relating to Optional Dual Credit Program: College Connect Courses). (TAC 4.85(a)(4)).
Under TAC 9.146, a high school student who has passed all of the STAAR EOC assessments with the high school graduation standard may be permitted to enroll in state-funded developmental courses offered by a college, at the college’s discretion, if a need for such course work is indicated by student performance on an assessment instrument approved by the Board under §4.56 of this title. Pursuant to Rule 9.146, an institution of higher education may submit the course for contact hour funding up to the limit specified statute or rule, but a developmental education course is not fundable as a dual credit course.
Posted 10/16/2024
Rule 4.85(b)(3) and (4) authorizes institutions to impose the same course prerequisite requirements designated for non dual credit students who enroll in a course and also allow for the institutions to impose additional requirements that do not conflict with the new rules. As long as the pre-requisites or additional requirements are applicable to all students, not just high school students, for that course, it is permissible under 4.85(b)(3) and (4). Perquisites such as a math course prerequisite for a physics course that would be applicable to all students in that college credit bearing course would be allowable.
Posted 10/16/2024
Under TAC 4.54(e), an institution may not require demonstration of college readiness for a non-degree seeking high school student.
Posted 10/16/2024
The Board clarified in Rule that a high school student who is not degree seeking is not required to be TSI-met, i.e. college ready to attempt dual credit. (Rule 4.52(b)(4)). An institution is prohibited from making these students be college ready. (Rule 4.54(e)). The Board added a definition for non-degree seeking under Rule 4.53(8):
Non-Degree-Seeking Student–A student who has not filed a degree plan with an institution of higher education and is not required to do so pursuant to Texas Education Code, §51.9685.
Because all high school students are now classified as degree-seeking or non-degree seeking, those who are non-degree seeking need not be TSI met and those who are degree-seeking must be college ready. The statutes neither contained nor required separate standards for a student to enroll in a dual credit course. The Board repealed Rule 4.85(b)(1)(2) because a non-degree seeking high school student is not required to be TSI met. No separate, alternative standards are necessary.
Posted 10/16/2024
There is nothing in TAC rules that prohibits a student from enrolling in dual credit courses after earning an associate degree as long as:
(A) The course is offered pursuant to an agreement under §4.84 of this subchapter (relating to Institutional Agreements).
(B) A course for which the student may earn one or more of the following types of credit:
(i) joint high school and junior college credit under Education Code, §130.008, or
(ii) another course offered by an institution of higher education, for which a high school student may earn semester credit hours or equivalent of semester credit hours toward satisfaction of:
(I) a course defined in paragraph (3) of this section that satisfies a requirement necessary to obtain an industry-recognized credential, certificate, or an associate degree;
(II) a foreign language requirement at an institution of higher education;
(III) a requirement in the core curriculum, as that term is defined by Education Code, §61.821, at an institution of higher education; or
(IV) a requirement in a field of study curriculum developed by the Coordinating Board under Education Code, §61.823. (TAC 4.83(10)).
While semester credit hours earned through dual credit by a high school student may impact state financial aid, they do not impact federal financial aid.
Posted 10/16/2024
Only the following types of courses can be offered for dual credit:
(A) The course is offered pursuant to an agreement under §4.84 of this subchapter (relating to Institutional Agreements).
(B) A course for which the student may earn one or more of the following types of credit:
(i) joint high school and junior college credit under Education Code, §130.008, or
(ii) another course offered by an institution of higher education, for which a high school student may earn semester credit hours or equivalent of semester credit hours toward satisfaction of:
(I) a course defined in paragraph (3) of this section that satisfies a requirement necessary to obtain an industry-recognized credential, certificate, or an associate degree;
(II) a foreign language requirement at an institution of higher education;
(III) a requirement in the core curriculum, as that term is defined by Education Code, §61.821, at an institution of higher education; or
(IV) a requirement in a field of study curriculum developed by the Coordinating Board under Education Code, §61.823. (TAC 4.83(10)).
If the early admission courses (1) fall within the definition of dual credit under 4.83(10) which would include a course that is college credit only and (2) your MOU contains all of the elements required by 4.84(b), the course may be a fundable dual credit course eligible for FAST program participation.
Posted 10/16/2024
The new dual credit rules became effective May 16, 2024. There is no phase in period language included in the new rules. Dual credit course enrollments that occurred prior to May 16, 2024, should have followed the requirements of the previous rules. Enrollments that occur after the effective date of the new dual credit rules must follow the new requirements.
Posted 10/16/2024
The new dual credit rules became effective May 16, 2024. There is no phase in period language included in the new rules. Dual credit course enrollments that occurred prior to May 16, 2024, should have followed the requirements of the previous rules. Enrollments that occur after the effective date of the new dual credit rules must follow the new requirements.
Posted 10/16/2024
An institution may offer a College Connect Course to any high school student as a dual credit course. An institution may offer a course in the communications (010) or mathematics (020) foundational component area of its approved core curriculum to a high school student who is degree seeking without requiring that student to demonstrate college readiness (i.e., a student who has more than 14 semester credit hours of college credit).
Posted 10/16/2024
This provision of rule is required by Tex. Educ. Code § 51.338(d) and is applicable to students who met those standards during the previous five years.
Posted 10/16/2024
An institution shall not require a high school student who is non-degree seeking to demonstrate college readiness in order to enroll in a dual credit course. A student who is degree seeking (except as provided by Rule 4.86(c)), shall meet either the exemption requirement under Rule 4.54 or meet the passing standard on the TSIA2 under Rule 4.57.
Posted 10/16/2024
The new dual credit rules became effective May 16, 2024. There is no phase in period language included in the new rules. Dual credit course enrollments that occurred prior to May 16, 2024, should have followed the requirements of the previous rules. Enrollments that occur after the effective date of the new dual credit rules must follow the new requirements.
Posted 10/16/2024
The new rules no longer allow for PSAT/NMSQT, ACT Aspire, English II EOC, or Algebra 1 EOC plus passing grade in the Algebra II course to demonstrate eligibility to enroll in a dual credit course. Current rules state that a high school student is eligible to enroll in a dual credit course if:
(A) is not a degree-seeking student as defined in §4.83(10) of this subchapter (relating to Definitions);
(B) demonstrates that he or she is exempt under the provisions of the Texas Success Initiative as set forth in §4.54 of this chapter (relating to Exemption);
(C) demonstrates college readiness by achieving the minimum passing standards under the provisions of the Texas Success Initiative as set forth in §4.57 of this chapter (relating to Texas Success Initiative Assessment College Readiness Standards) on relevant section(s) of an assessment instrument approved by the Board as set forth in §4.56 of this chapter (relating to Assessment Instrument); or
(D) Meets the eligibility requirements for a Texas First Diploma under §21.52 of this title (relating to Eligibility for Texas First Diploma). (TAC 4.85(b)(1))
TAC 4.54 allows for students who have satisfactorily completed college-level coursework in mathematics, reading, or writing with a grade of ‘C’ or better, including a high school student who has earned college credit for a dual credit course, or a college connect course, to be exempt from TSI requirements.
Posted 10/16/2024
TAC 4.83 (3) & (10)(B)(ii)(I) provide for a continuing education college course to be offered for dual credit if it the student (qualified under TAC 9.114 (c)) may earn credit toward satisfaction of a requirement necessary to obtain an industry-recognized credential, certificate, or associate degree.
Posted 10/16/2024
School districts/charters/private schools may only require the same dual credit course enrollment pre-requisites or additional requirements that are imposed on a high school student by the partnering institution of higher education at which the student is enroll.
Posted 10/16/2024
Based on TAC 4.85(b)(1), a degree seeking high school student is eligible to enroll in a dual credit course that requires demonstration of college readiness in English/Language Arts and/or mathematics if either of the following criteria are met:
(B) demonstrates that he or she is exempt under the provisions of the Texas Success Initiative as set forth in §4.54 of this chapter (relating to Exemption);
(C) demonstrates college readiness by achieving the minimum passing standards under the provisions of the Texas Success Initiative as set forth in §4.57 of this chapter (relating to Texas Success Initiative Assessment College Readiness Standards) on relevant section(s) of an assessment instrument approved by the Board as set forth in §4.56 of this chapter (relating to Assessment Instrument); or
(D) Meets the eligibility requirements for a Texas First Diploma under §21.52 of this title (relating to Eligibility for Texas First Diploma).
Additionally, an institution may offer a course in the communications (010) and/or mathematics (020) foundational component area of its approved core curriculum to a high school student who is degree seeking without requiring that student to demonstrate college readiness.
Posted 10/16/2024
Contact
For additional information, contact Andrew Lofters, Director, Academic and Health Affairs.
