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House passes bill to broaden dual-enrollment access for Alabama high school students
Summary
The Alabama House passed HB102 to expand access to dual-enrollment college courses to eligible high school students across local education agencies; the measure clarifies credit awards and the state’s role in guidance and implementation.
House bill 102, carried by Representative Walt Ross, passed the Alabama House after several lawmakers praised the measure as a major expansion of student access to college-level coursework.
The bill requires that approved dual-enrollment courses offered by community colleges and universities be available to eligible high-school students enrolled in all local education agencies, and directs the State Department of Education to prepare implementation guidelines in collaboration with the Alabama Community College System and public universities. Representative Walt Ross said the measure “would require dual enrollment courses to be available to eligible high school students through all education agencies” and emphasized that local districts would not be financially responsible for costs associated with participation.
Supporters said the expansion removes local barriers that keep some students from taking college classes while in high school. Representative Drummond, who urged broader academic access in addition to workforce pathways, described dual enrollment as “a wonderful...program to get our kids introduced into going into higher ed.” Other members, including Representative Warren and Representative Gidley, said the bill will help students earn college credit and accelerate progress toward degrees.
The House also adopted a committee substitute clarifying counselor or career-coach advisement before enrollment and underlining that local systems are not required to incorporate any dual-enrollment course into standard curricula. The House voted to adopt the bill’s BR and committee substitute and then approved final passage by recorded votes. Clerk records show the BR passed 103-0 and the final passage as substituted recorded 102-0 on the floor.
Representative Ross opened and closed debate; several members praised the bill’s potential to raise college attainment and to allow students to earn credentials while completing high school. The bill includes a role for counselors or career coaches to advise students on course relevance and does not obligate local systems to pay tuition costs; the State Department of Education and higher-education partners will produce implementation guidelines.
The measure will allow more students statewide to enroll in dual-enrollment courses offered by colleges and universities, with an implementation framework set by state education authorities and the Alabama Community College System.
