Policy Analysis - (HB1, 5.01, 79th Texas Legislature, 3rd Called Session) DUAL CREDIT COURSES
By aweishuhn5
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1950s - And So It began!
The oldest form of dual credit-like programs began sometime in the 1950s. The wealthy and elite from the Northeast used these programs to further their so-called "gifted" and "advanced placement" children. McMannon, T.J.(2000).Dual Credit: A review of the literature
(Doctoral Dissertation, Institute for Education Inquiry,
Seattle, Washington). Retrieved from
http://www.ieiseattle.org/Review_of_the_Literature.pdf -
1970s - Syracuse University Project Advanced
This project was technically the first dual credit program in the country and targeted college bound seniors. It allowed high school seniors to take courses at the Syracuse campus. McMannon, T.J.(2000).Dual Credit: A review of the literature
(Doctoral Dissertation, Institute for Education Inquiry,
Seattle, Washington). Retrieved from
http://www.ieiseattle.org/Review_of_the_Literature.pdf -
Fall 1999 - Board of Education Begins Tracking Dual Credit Courses.
Because dual credit courses gained so much popularity around this time, the Board of Education began keeping records on dual credit courses. "In Texas alone, dual credit enrollment increased from 11,921 in fall of 1999 to 19,346 in fall of 2000." American Institutes for Research, Gibson Consulting Group, Inc.
(2011). Research study of Texas dual credit programs and
courses. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/ashlee.weishuhn/
Downloads/DualCredit_March162011%20(5).pdf -
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's Push to Make it Mandatory
At this time, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board was pushing state representatives to make it mandatory for all high schools to offer dual credit courses. Robert W. Shepard and David W. Gardner headed up this charge. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. (2005). Governing
board conference 2005 agenda. Retrieved from
http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/events/
govboardconf/2005/Agenda.cfm -
House Bill 1, 5.01 - The Bill At Hand - Finally A Legal Plan
"As part of Texas’ efforts to promote...college readiness, legislation was passed in 2006...that requires each LEA to implement a program under which students may earn the equivalent of at least 12 semester hours of college credit in high school." American Institutes for Research, Gibson Consulting Group, Inc.
(2011). Research study of Texas dual credit programs and
courses. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/ashlee.weishuhn/
Downloads/DualCredit_March162011%20(5).pdf -
House Bill 1, 5.01 - The Bill At Hand - Finally A Legal Plan (CONT'D)
Through the years, studies of dual credit courses found that high school students were more successful in these courses because they had someone on their campus to guide them through their difficulties. Educators were hoping that by making them successful in the beginning would only allow them to be successful when they were on their own as a real college student. -
2007 - Texas Education Code 28.009 - Amendment to the Original
Added to the original bill was the stipulation that "college credit may be earned through Advanced Placement (AP) courses...and courses for dual credit." American Institutes for Research, Gibson Consulting Group, Inc.
(2011). Research study of Texas dual credit programs and
courses. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/ashlee.weishuhn/
Downloads/DualCredit_March162011%20(5).pdf -
Texas Education Code - 28.009 Amendment (HB 505) - 84th Legislature
The 84th Texas Legislature decided that a school may not limit the number of courses or hours a student may enroll while in high school or per semester. Texas Education Code. (2015). 84th Texas Legislative Session.
Retrived from http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/84R/
billtext/html/HB00505I.htm -
The Impact on Today's Higher Education
The American Institutes for Research estimate that roughly 65% of the students enrolled in high school today are involved in at least one dual credit course, and that 68% of those students continue their education at the next level. American Institutes for Research, Gibson Consulting Group, Inc.
(2011). Research study of Texas dual credit programs and
courses. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/ashlee.weishuhn/
Downloads/DualCredit_March162011%20(5).pdf -
In the Future
While the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board members from the time of House Bill 1, 5.01 are no longer serving, the advances on these courses are still taking place. At first, English and History were the two main courses available. The curriculum has now expanded to Careers, Technology, Economics, and many others. Distance Learning was also big in he beginning. Students attended an actual college class through technology similar to SKYPE. Now, the majority of the classes are online. -
In the Future (CONT'D)
From what I've gathered, there are currently no proposals for dual credit courses. And while I feel dual credit is a great opportunity for students, after proctoring a couple courses, I do know there needs to be some changes with monitoring. If instructors on both sides are not doing their job, these courses are not beneficial to students. Cheating is too common, and there has to be a way to monitor this more efficiently. I feel educators will work to render these problems for future students.
