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District 211 board hears College Now dual‑enrollment plan with Harper College; application opens Oct. 1
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Summary
District 211 administrators presented a new dual‑enrollment program, College Now, in partnership with Harper College that would allow eligible juniors and seniors to earn both a high‑school diploma and an associate degree.
District 211 administrators presented a new dual‑enrollment pathway called College Now that aims to allow participating students to graduate with both a high‑school diploma and an associate of arts degree.
Superintendent Judith Campbell introduced the program and turned the presentation to Michelle Napier, the district’s director of college and career readiness, who described the program’s structure and timeline. “Students take college level courses at Harper while completing their high school requirements,” Napier said. “By senior year, they are fully immersed at Harper. And upon graduation, they hold both a high school diploma and an associate of arts degree.”
Key details presented to the board: - Target cohort: current 10th‑grade students who would begin the program in their junior year. - Capacity for District 211 in the inaugural year: 50 students (region‑wide slots set by the four‑district partnership). - Cost to families: $250 per semester (about $1,000 total for the two‑year program), which covers a portion of tuition and estimated textbooks. - Eligibility: minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA with no D’s or F’s, strong attendance, completion of key sophomore courses, and meeting Harper’s placement requirements; admitted students must maintain a C or better in all courses. - Timeline: online application opens Oct. 1; applications due Oct. 15; notification the week of Oct. 22; family confirmation by Nov. 1; orientations and assessments in winter/spring; first cohort begins Aug. 2026.
Board members asked detailed operational questions about capacity, wait lists, transportation, student supports and liability. Trustee Van Dyke asked what would distinguish the admitted 50 students if 100 applied; Napier replied admission would be limited to applicants who meet readiness benchmarks and who can sustain the program’s criteria. On transportation, Napier said the districts planned to provide district transportation during junior year and that seniors would have the option to drive in some cases. Regarding liability while students are on Harper’s campus, administrators said they would consult risk management; the district’s existing MOU with Harper governs many dual‑credit arrangements.
Napier emphasized that College Now is voluntary and not a fit for every student: “It’s an incredible opportunity but it’s not meant for every student and that’s okay,” she said. Administrators said Harper and the participating districts will provide counseling and monitoring to support admitted students and that program seats would be scheduled at Harper once families confirm participation (the district will not maintain a rolling wait list after scheduling is finalized). The board asked administrators to continue refining logistics — including transportation, meal eligibility and scheduling compatibility with district calendars — and to share detailed parent‑information materials.
Next steps: the application opens Oct. 1 and the district will hold information sessions; administrators said they plan to monitor the pilot and explore expansion after the initial cohort.
