Rock Hill board approves dual-credit options, launches three college pilot programs

The Rock Hill School District board on March 5 approved several expansions of dual-credit and dual-enrollment opportunities, including allowing English 101 to substitute for the district’s English 4 graduation requirement and launching three dual-enrollment pilot programs with Winthrop University, York Technical College and the University of South Carolina Lancaster.

The moves are intended to give juniors and seniors early access to college-level courses and the opportunity to earn transferable college credits or an associate degree while completing high school. Michelle Hutchison, executive director for secondary education, told the board the pilots are designed so students both earn high school graduation credit and accumulate college credit that is “universally transferable” among South Carolina public institutions.

Hutchison said the Winthrop pilot is a business-and-leadership track for about 50 juniors; students who matriculate at Winthrop after graduation would complete the remainder of a bachelor’s degree there. The York Tech pilot would enroll roughly 60 juniors and aims to allow students to complete an associate degree in two years; York Tech agreed to cover tuition and fees for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school years, Hutchison said. USC Lancaster would run a smaller pilot for about 15 juniors with tuition free for students who enroll in two or more courses, with families responsible for textbooks and course fees.

Board members pressed program staff on selection criteria, monitoring and family communications. Hutchison said students applying to York Tech and USC Lancaster must meet a 3.0 weighted GPA requirement and be on track to enter their junior year; Winthrop’s business pilot requires a 3.5 unweighted GPA, two recommendations and a focused essay. If demand exceeds seats for a pilot, the district would run a lottery. Hutchison also flagged Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) limits: colleges will not communicate directly with parents, so the district has set up liaisons and an internal alert system; she said she will act as the first point of contact for parents and families when alerts are generated.

Board members and parents at the meeting praised the programs as potentially transformative, while also raising concerns about student readiness, scheduling conflicts with differing college calendars and exit criteria for students who decide to leave a pilot. Hutchison said students in the pilots will be monitored and progress-reviewed; students in interventions are progress-monitored every six to eight weeks, she said.

Formal votes followed the presentation. The board voted to approve the English 101 substitution for English 4 and to authorize the three pilot programs. The motion to approve English 101 was moved by Mr. Roberts and seconded by Ms. Harris and carried unanimously. A later motion to approve the three pilots was moved by Mr. Perkins and seconded by Mr. Nussel and carried.

The board also approved a list of dual-credit courses identified for the district’s business and leadership program (presented as university-transferable course matches) so counselors may apply the college credits to required high-school credits or electives as appropriate.

The district will require student orientation, academic supports through the college partners’ tutoring centers, and continuity plans so credits remain transferable if a student later enrolls at a different South Carolina public college. Hutchison said the district will establish liaisons at each college and a local contact at each high school to coordinate alerts and academic plans.

Votes at a glance from the action: the board approved the English 101 substitution (motion carried, recorded in the meeting as unanimous) and approved the three college pilot programs (motion carried). Board members asked staff to return with operational details as pilots are implemented, including final seat counts, lottery procedures and formalized exit criteria for participating students.