Granting Credit Towards Graduation for Dual Credit and Dual Enrollment Courses

THE INTERIM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER RECOMMENDS

That the Chicago Board of Education ("Board") amend Board Report 21-0825-PO1 Granting Credit Toward Graduation For Courses Taken Outside of the Chicago Public Schools Day Program and rename the policy to Granting Credit Towards Graduation for Dual Credit and Dual Enrollment Courses. The policy was amended to ensure the language aligns with current district practices and is applied equitably across all stakeholders.

POLICY TEXT

I. Definitions

The following definitions apply to this policy:

Regionally Accredited: As defined by Ill. Admin. Code titl. 23 § 25.10.

Dual Credit: A college course that has been approved by the offices of Office College and Career Success (OCCS) and Teaching and Learning (T&L) to meet the high school level graduation requirement or towards a student earning an associate degree, industrial certification, or extra credits towards their bachelor's degree. It will count towards the student's GPA and will be included in the student's transcripts. A dual credit course is taught by an early college university-partner credentialed Chicago Public School (CPS) teacher at a CPS facility.

Dual Enrollment: A college course that has been approved by the offices of Office College and Career Success (OCCS) and Teaching and Learning (T&L) to meet the high school level graduation requirement or towards students earning an associate degree, industrial certification, or extra credits towards their bachelor's degree. It will count towards the student's GPA and will be included in the student's transcripts with appropriate principal approval as outlined in Section II. A dual enrollment course is taught by a college staff member at a college facility. The early college university partner determines the criteria for student acceptance into the course.

Early College University Partners: College and/or University institutions that have been approved by the CPS Office of College and Career Success (OCCS), have an active data-sharing agreement with CPS, and the course is recognized as an approved dual enrollment/dual credit course by an accredited two or four-year postsecondary institution.

II. Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Courses

Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment is an instructional arrangement where a student currently enrolled in high school enrolls in a college-level course and, upon successful course completion, concurrently earns both college credit and high school credit. A student who successfully completes dual credit/dual enrollment courses at a regionally accredited two- or four-year college or university offered at Chicago Public Schools may receive high school credit, provided that all of the following conditions are met:

1. The course curriculum is approved by the District, and the course is recognized as an approved dual enrollment/dual credit/dual enrollment course by an accredited two- or four-year postsecondary institution.
2. The college-level course is approved by the school principal in advance of a student's enrollment l per district guidance on acceptable dual enrollment/dual credit. and Principals approve their school's course of study and are responsible for ensuring all students are completing coursework toward graduation.
3. The student assumes responsibility for fees for dual enrollment/dual credit courses as applicable.

Given these conditions, credit for any dual credit or dual enrollment course from the District's Early College Partners may be counted toward the academic requirements for a student's high school graduation and be added to the student's transcripts and GPA.

Credit issued pursuant to this policy through a college or university that is not affiliated with a District Early College Partner is issued in addition to the high school graduation requirements and must not replace the academic content credit requirements pursuant to the Board's Minimum High School Graduation Requirements Policy.

III. Student Appeal Process

Students must obtain principal approval before enrolling in any college or university, or other alternative course. If the principal does not approve the credit, the student has the right to appeal the principal's decision to the school's Network Chief Officer. The Network Chief Officer is the final arbiter in consultation with the Office of College and Career Success and Teaching and Learning of whether or not the course will be credited toward graduation.