Envisioning Dual Enrollment
Vision 2030 and the California State Plan for Career Technical Education (CTE) both name dual enrollment as a strategy for serving students, making it an essential area of focus for both colleges and high schools.
Dual Enrollment Data/Research/Benefits
Benefits of Dual Enrollment
Students who participate in dual enrollment graduate high school and matriculate to college at higher rates. These students also have higher persistence and completion rates. Students in groups that are the focus of CCAP programs often benefit most.
Broadening the Benefits of Dual Enrollment: Reaching Underachieving and Underrepresented Students with Career-Focused Programs (2012)
This research study from the Community College Research Center (CCRC) informed AB 288 legislation.
Early College, Early Success: Early College High School Initiative Study (2013)
American Institutes for Research / Gates Foundation research focusing on two questions: 1. Do Early College students have better outcomes than they would have had at other high schools? 2. Does the impact of Early Colleges vary by student background characteristics (e.g. gender and family income)?
What We Know About Dual Enrollment (2012) Community College Research Center:
This overview synthesizes and summarizes CCRC and NCPR findings on dual enrollment outcomes, presents a case study of how one dual enrollment program increased participation of low-income and underrepresented students, and lays out guiding questions to consider when implementing a dual enrollment program.
The Dual Enrollment Playbook: A Guide to Equitable Acceleration for Students
(2020) The Aspen Institute and Community College Research Center identify five principles and the supporting strategies and practices through which community colleges and K-12 leaders can advance equity in high-quality dual enrollment.
Creating dual enrollment partnerships
Strong dual enrollment partnerships involve aligned vision, shared commitment, and strong communication that starts with leadership. Organization commitment reflected in mission and goals and including staffing is essential for the creation of strong partnerships.
Creating Dual Enrollment Partnerships
from Career Ladders Project (CLP)
Implementing a Dual Enrollment Program
(2012) CCRC provides questions to guide the implementation of dual enrollment from the initial creation through measuring success.
Los Angeles County Toolkit to Equity-Centered Dual Enrollment Partnerships:
This brief from the Greater LA Education Foundation (GLAEF) and Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) describes a regional effort to strengthen district and community college partnerships and expand equitable access to and success in high-quality dual enrollment programs.
PEP Talk: Strengthening Partnerships Through Data and Communication
(NACEP): Elements like state policy, funding, and geographic proximity can impact equity and access and often are beyond the control of dual enrollment programs. However, reviewing and using data to inform planning offers programs an important resource to leverage program and community resources to help overcome these barriers. This resource provides information on how to leverage data and use it to raise awareness for and make decisions in dual enrollment programs.
Using Data to Develop & Strengthen Dual Enrollment Initiatives
Data from the both community college and their dual enrollment partners provides critical context when developing a dual enrollment partnership, informing how programs are developed and supporting evaluation of programs (check out this Checklist of Data to Track In Dual Enrollment Programs from LARC).
High School
The high school population should be used to evaluate dual enrollment participation and persistence.
California School Dashboard
Provides school report cards based on California’s Accountability System, including performance in key areas such college and career readiness, graduation rates, English Languages Arts and Mathematics, and suspension rates. The California School Dashboard provides a more complete picture of how schools and districts are meeting the needs of all students.
CA School Dashboard Navigator (CDE)
View state indicators. Filter by county, school district, student group.
California Department of Education Data and Statistics
Data Quest provides data on post-secondary enrollment, graduation rates, enrollment rates, including disaggregation by special populations.
Community College
College dual enrollment participation data is an essential part of program evaluation and completion of at least 12 units is a Vision 2030 metric
DataVista Special Admit Data
Public facing special admit data.
DataVista Cohort Views: General Admit & K12 Special Admit Guidance
Chancellor's Office MIS & CCAP Data
The Chancellor’s Office updated the MIS system data elements to collect CCAP data through the MIS data upload. Review your procedures to ensure that you are utilizing the MIS correct MIS data elements. (See Resources for Dual Enrollment Administrators for current Alchemer Links)
MIS Data Submission Resources
Chancellor’s Office Data Element Dictionary
Memorandum: Request to Report via the SG13 data element for College and Career Access Pathways
Chancellor's Office Webinar (recording, slides)
Legislation & Memos
SB1244 - Pupil instruction: dual enrollment: College and Career Access Pathways partnerships
This legislation defines the conditions under which high schools must be provided a release to partner with a community college district outside of the primary community college district’s service area.
ESLEI 24-73: Guidance Memo – Senate Bill 1244, Pupil instruction: dual enrollment: College and Career Access Pathways partnerships
AB 102 - College and Career Access Pathways partnerships
This bill extends those provisions related to CCAP partnerships indefinitely and adds language specifying that “high school,” as used in the bill, includes a community school, continuation high school, or juvenile court school. The bill also authorizes county offices of education to enter into CCAP partnerships with the governing boards of community college districts in accordance with these provisions. This expanded definition is critical to extending the reach of dual enrollment to a broader set of student populations.
ESS-22-300-018 AB 102_Pupil Attendance CCAP_ County Office of Education
Reviews the impact of AB 102 legislation that came into effect January 2023.
AB 30 - Community colleges: College and Career Access Pathways partnerships
AB 2364 - Public postsecondary education: community colleges: exemption from nonresident tuition
Requires colleges to exempt all special part time (i.e. dual enrollment) students from non-resident fees (except for students on certain kinds of student or tourist visas), meaning that high school students who are not residents cannot be charged non-resident tuition (unless they are on a tourist or student visa).
SB 554 - Public schools: adult school students: Advanced Scholastic and Vocational Training Program
This bill clearly extends access to special admit status to high school equivalency students at adult schools.
ESS 20-300-004 Senate Bill 554 Public Schools: Adult School Students – Advanced Scholastic and Vocational Training Program Memo
(August 2020) Overview of MIS and CCCApply updates in accordance with SB 554.
Legislative Items for Early & Middle Colleges
Provides an overview of legislation that applies to early college and middle college high school programs.
Title V § 58106. Limitations on Enrollment
Cohorts of students are allowed under b.4 allows “limiting enrollment in one or more sections of a course to a cohort of students enrolled in one or more other courses, provided however, that a reasonable percentage of all sections of the course do not have such restrictions.”
Limitations on Enrollment for Cohorts of Students Legal Opinion O 10-07:
Defines “reasonable percentage” as a majority. If a college chooses to restrict sections of a course to a cohort, there must be a greater number of sections of that course to be left for open enrollment
Santa Barbara City College Student Cohort Model and Open Enrollment:
Expands on Legal Opinion O 10-07, providing context for the saving of seats for a cohorted group. While this does not speak specifically to dual enrollment/special admit, it does provide context for cohorting of courses under Title V, particularly at an HSI.
Creating Dual Enrollment Programs
Stand up a new program from the ground up — getting started, the populations you’ll serve, the legislation that governs the work, the agreements and staffing behind it, and the pathways students will follow.
Serving Students in Underrepresented Populations
Equity Research
Dual Enrollment in California: Promoting Equitable Student Access and Success
October 2021) from the Public Policy Institute of California
A Foot in the Door: Growth in Participation and Equity in Dual Enrollment in California
(October 2021) from Wheelhouse: The Center for Community College Leadership and Research
The Dual Enrollment Playbook: A Guide to Equitable Acceleration for Students
(October 2020) by the Community College Research Center (CCRC)
A Guide to Launching and Expanding Dual Enrollment Programs for Historically Underserved Students in California
(June 2014) by Rogéair Purnell, Ph.D.
Adult Schools
CAEP Adult Dual Enrollment: Lessons and Opportunities (High Road Alliance)
Lessons and Opportunities
Slides
Regional Highlight - College of the Siskiyous
Memorandum of Understanding between Siskiyou Joint Community College District and Adult Education Pathways for Dual Enrollment
Example MOU outlining and adult school dual enrollment partnership in response to SB 554.
Adult Education Pathways Dual Enrollment Process
Process outline for adult dual enrollment at College of the Siskiyous.
Co-Enrollment Strategies and Adult Education (Hanover Research Brief)
Ability to Benefit
Ability to Benefit Resource Page (National College Transitions Network)
Ability to Benefit: Dual Enrollment (National College Transition Network)
Provides extensive resources on Ability to Benefit (A2B) which is underutilized to benefit adult school students.
Ability to Benefit State Leadership (June 2020) webinar
Transitioning Adult Learners to College A User Guide for Ability to Benefit and Adult Dual Enrollment (CLP February 2023)
Multi-Language Learners (MLL)
Overview of California’s Approach to Supporting Multilingual Learners
(March 2025)
Designing Dual Enrollment to Reach English Learners: Boosting College Success for California Students
(JFF)
Dual enrollment and multilingual English learners: From equity gaps toward solutions
(New Direction for Community Colleges, 27 July 2024)
Ensuring English Learner Students Can Participate Meaningfully and Equally in Educational Programs
(US Department of Education)
Multilingual LearnerMA Toolkit
Oakland Unified School District | English Language Learner & Multilingual Achievement: ELLMA develops guidance, resources, and professional learning to ensure English Language Learners progress toward reclassification and ultimately, the Seal of Biliteracy upon graduation. Together, we prepare OUSD students to thrive in a multilingual world.
Examples
World House Newcomer program – Tennyson High School
Dual Enrollment for English Learners: A Model for Implementation
(Dual Enrollment Equity Conference)
MLL & Dual Enrollment
(San Diego Dual Enrollment COP)
Opening the Dual Enrollment Door Wider for English Learners: A Case Study From Maryland
(CCRC)
Integrated ELD in the ELA Classroom
(San Bernardino)
Justice System Involved Youth
Rising Scholars Network
AB 417 authorized the Chancellor Office of the California Community Colleges to establish this program to enter into agreements with up to 50 community colleges to provide additional funds for services in support of postsecondary education for justice-involved students. The website provides resources and information that will help inform programs serving this population.
Rising Scholars Network Resources For Practitioners
Memo: ESLEI 24-74 Expanding Educational Opportunities for Justice-Involved Youth through Dual Enrollment
California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation (CDCR
Youth Justice Initiative Application Deep Dive + Dual Enrollment (Rising Scholars) (February 2nd, 2023)
Disability justice and the intersection of Rising Scholars and SAS/DSPS (Rising Scholars) (March 30th, 2023)
Legislation & Memos
SB1244 - Pupil instruction: dual enrollment: College and Career Access Pathways partnerships
This legislation defines the conditions under which high schools must be provided a release to partner with a community college district outside of the primary community college district’s service area.
ESLEI 24-73: Guidance Memo – Senate Bill 1244, Pupil instruction: dual enrollment: College and Career Access Pathways partnerships
AB 102 - College and Career Access Pathways partnerships
This bill extends those provisions related to CCAP partnerships indefinitely and adds language specifying that “high school,” as used in the bill, includes a community school, continuation high school, or juvenile court school. The bill also authorizes county offices of education to enter into CCAP partnerships with the governing boards of community college districts in accordance with these provisions. This expanded definition is critical to extending the reach of dual enrollment to a broader set of student populations.
ESS-22-300-018 AB 102_Pupil Attendance CCAP_ County Office of Education
Reviews the impact of AB 102 legislation that came into effect January 2023.
AB 30 - Community colleges: College and Career Access Pathways partnerships
AB 2364 - Public postsecondary education: community colleges: exemption from nonresident tuition
Requires colleges to exempt all special part time (i.e. dual enrollment) students from non-resident fees (except for students on certain kinds of student or tourist visas), meaning that high school students who are not residents cannot be charged non-resident tuition (unless they are on a tourist or student visa).
SB 554 - Public schools: adult school students: Advanced Scholastic and Vocational Training Program
This bill clearly extends access to special admit status to high school equivalency students at adult schools.
ESS 20-300-004 Senate Bill 554 Public Schools: Adult School Students – Advanced Scholastic and Vocational Training Program Memo
(August 2020) Overview of MIS and CCCApply updates in accordance with SB 554.
Legislative Items for Early & Middle Colleges
Provides an overview of legislation that applies to early college and middle college high school programs.
Title V § 58106. Limitations on Enrollment
Cohorts of students are allowed under b.4 allows “limiting enrollment in one or more sections of a course to a cohort of students enrolled in one or more other courses, provided however, that a reasonable percentage of all sections of the course do not have such restrictions.”
Limitations on Enrollment for Cohorts of Students Legal Opinion O 10-07:
Defines “reasonable percentage” as a majority. If a college chooses to restrict sections of a course to a cohort, there must be a greater number of sections of that course to be left for open enrollment
Santa Barbara City College Student Cohort Model and Open Enrollment:
Expands on Legal Opinion O 10-07, providing context for the saving of seats for a cohorted group. While this does not speak specifically to dual enrollment/special admit, it does provide context for cohorting of courses under Title V, particularly at an HSI.
Topics of Interest
Example Agreements and Forms
Single Parent Authorization under CCAP (Foothill)
Single parent consent form is required for CCAP under AB 30.
Foothill CCAP Parent Consent Form
Includes parent information about CCAP dual enrollment, including FERPA and grades
Foothill CCAP Parent Form: Termination of Consent
Terminates consent to participate in dual enrollment
Regional Highlights
Butte-Glenn Community College District College and Career Access Pathways Authorization to Participate:
Through this, high schools provide blanket authorization to all students in their district to participate in CCAP dual enrollment.
Memorandum of Understanding between Siskiyou Joint Community College District and Adult Education Pathways for Dual Enrollment:
Example MOU outlining and adult school dual enrollment partnership in response to SB 554.
Shasta College 2023-2024 Dual Enrollment Instructor Agreement:
Outlines the compensation and expectations for dual enrollment instructors sourced from the high school.
College of the Siskiyous Dual Enrollment MOU
Used both to create non-CCAP course offerings as well as in conjunction with CCAP MOUs.
College of the Siskiyous Adult `Dual Enrollment Process:
Step-by-step process for adult school enrollment with links to many supporting documents and a student agreement form.
Staffing
Staffing on both sides of the dual enrollment partnerships is essential to an effective and high quality dual enrollment program. As programs develop, consider what types roles would best support program development and quality.
High School:
Job descriptions for dual enrollment jobs at high schools.
Community College
Job descriptions for dual enrollment jobs at community colleges.
Working with Unions
The key to working with unions is to engage unions on both sides of the partnership early and take the time address questions and concerns.
Foothill DeAnza Faculty MOU
MOU that addresses the collaborative needs of high schools and community colleges when engaging with dual enrollment.
Los Angeles Community College District & Los Angeles College Faculty Guild Local 1521, CFT/AFT, AFL-CIO Agreement 2020-2023:
See Article 13 A13 (p. 25) language confirming that off-site assignments for dual enrollment may confirm to high school calendar with notification to the instructor when the assignment is offered. See Article 23 K, defining training for off-site and non-traditional assignments , such as dual enrollment.
SMCCD AFT 1493 Questions and concerns about dual enrollment:
Example of questions raised by one union regarding dual enrollment.
Working with Teacher Unions – Lessons Learned
(October 2024) A presentation by Ben Williams, Corona Norco Teachers Association Vice President. The dual enrollment report reflects concerns and examples identified during their process.
NORCO Dual Enrollment Report:
Report of issues, legislation, and examples that came up during Norco union negotiations.
Instructional minutes and apportionment
Attendance Accounting and Instructional Time Requirements for Dual Enrollment
(CDE, 2025 CCEMC Conference) Provides an overview of time and attendance accounting with legislative references.
CCAP Partnership Agreement Guidelines for Apportionment Eligibility
College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) Partnership Agreement Guidelines for Apportionment Eligibility
(March 2016) Chancellor’s Office memo that reviews CCAP partnership rules and eligibility for apportionment.
Supporting: Dual Enrollment Instructional Minutes (CLP):
Interview with the Fiscal Consultant, School Fiscal Services at the California Department of Education discussing instructional minutes at the high school and ADA.
California Department of Education Q&A:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the instructional time and attendance accounting requirements for dual enrollment.
Understanding Student Privacy (FERPA)
US Department of Education FERPA
FERPA FAQ
A Parent Guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
FERPA Privacy and Data Sharing (US Department of Education)
CLP Federal Privacy Law Related to Dual Enrollment—Strategies for Coordinators
FERPA and Dual Enrollment: Institutional Practice and Policy Considerations
(Journal of Applied Research in the Community College, Fall 2023 – Vol. 30, No. 2)
Pathway Planning
REACH Pathway Mapping Toolkit
(Reach Collaborative, Guided Pathways Implementation Team, Foundation for California Community Colleges): A toolkit to support the mapping the current credentials within the pathway and their associated labor market outcomes, work-based learning opportunities, and holistic supports to identify gaps & needs
Dual Enrollment Pathway Implementation Roadmap
(LARC and CLP, 2025) Findings from 11 teams who participated in a Dual Enrollment Pathway Institute focused on designing equitable dual enrollment pathways.
Career Pathways Mapping Toolkit
(Career Ladders Project) Career pathways maps clarify and align programs and services; they link increasing levels of certification, education, and employment; and they support students in choosing among the opportunities that interest them. Understanding this important process is critical in creating strong dual enrollment programs.
Examples:
Associates Degree Pathway Examples
Examples of courses sequences designed to help students meet AA/AS degree requirements.
Chaffey College Dual Enrollment Degree Pathway Options:
CTE pathway examples with course sequences organized by Guided Pathways.
American River College Sample Dual Enrollment Pathway (4 year):
Provides an example of a four year dual enrollment plan.
Reedley College Pathways:
Provides examples of pathways by certificate type (low unit, high unit, degree) offered by Reedly College.
Say Hello to Your Future (College of Marin):
Provides CTE degree pathways by high school year, with multiple options within the pathway.
MPC Hospitality Pathway Map (Example)
This is an example of dual enrollment hospitality pathways across multiple high schools. It highlights that pathways can vary based on the high school environments and the needs of the student populations.
Maintaining Dual Enrollment Programs
Keep a running program healthy and high-quality — organized around the principles of rigor, readiness, and relevance that keep dual enrollment true to college standards.
Expanding (Growing / Scaling) Dual Enrollment Programs
Well-designed dual enrollment programs can serve a wide variety of students who benefit from well-designed pathways with appropriate supports.
Context
The Dual Enrollment Playbook: A Guide to Equitable Acceleration for Students
(CCRC & Aspen Institute, 2020) This playbook that identifies five principles and the supporting strategies and practices through which community colleges and K-12 leaders can advance equity in high-quality dual enrollment and developed equity tools for assessing equitable practices at community colleges and high schools.
California’s Community Colleges
The report analyzes data from the community colleges across the state to see if we’re equitably serving Black, Native, and Latinx students through dual enrollment and finds that we are not yet doing so, and outlines a policy and practice agenda that K-12 and community college leaders can implement to jumpstart efforts for more equitable dual enrollment practices.
Dual Enrollment for Students from Special Populations
Improving College Transitions for English Learners, Students with Disabilities, Foster Youth, and Young People Experiencing Homelessness (JFF)
Expanding Populations
Evaluate the potential populations who could be served by dual enrollment in your community. Currently underserved populations that could benefit include first-generation college students, socioeconomically disadvantaged students, multi-language learners, adult school students, continuation school students, foster youth, and justice-system-involved youth.
Equity Research
Dual Enrollment in California: Promoting Equitable Student Access and Success
October 2021) from the Public Policy Institute of California
A Foot in the Door: Growth in Participation and Equity in Dual Enrollment in California
(October 2021) from Wheelhouse: The Center for Community College Leadership and Research
The Dual Enrollment Playbook: A Guide to Equitable Acceleration for Students
(October 2020) by the Community College Research Center (CCRC)
A Guide to Launching and Expanding Dual Enrollment Programs for Historically Underserved Students in California
(June 2014) by Rogéair Purnell, Ph.D.
Adult Schools
CAEP Adult Dual Enrollment: Lessons and Opportunities (High Road Alliance)
Lessons and Opportunities
Slides
Regional Highlight - College of the Siskiyous
Memorandum of Understanding between Siskiyou Joint Community College District and Adult Education Pathways for Dual Enrollment
Example MOU outlining and adult school dual enrollment partnership in response to SB 554.
Adult Education Pathways Dual Enrollment Process
Process outline for adult dual enrollment at College of the Siskiyous.
Co-Enrollment Strategies and Adult Education (Hanover Research Brief)
Ability to Benefit
Ability to Benefit Resource Page (National College Transitions Network)
Ability to Benefit: Dual Enrollment (National College Transition Network)
Provides extensive resources on Ability to Benefit (A2B) which is underutilized to benefit adult school students.
Ability to Benefit State Leadership (June 2020) webinar
Transitioning Adult Learners to College A User Guide for Ability to Benefit and Adult Dual Enrollment (CLP February 2023)
Multi-Language Learners (MLL)
Overview of California’s Approach to Supporting Multilingual Learners
(March 2025)
Designing Dual Enrollment to Reach English Learners: Boosting College Success for California Students
(JFF)
Dual enrollment and multilingual English learners: From equity gaps toward solutions
(New Direction for Community Colleges, 27 July 2024)
Ensuring English Learner Students Can Participate Meaningfully and Equally in Educational Programs
(US Department of Education)
Multilingual LearnerMA Toolkit
Oakland Unified School District | English Language Learner & Multilingual Achievement: ELLMA develops guidance, resources, and professional learning to ensure English Language Learners progress toward reclassification and ultimately, the Seal of Biliteracy upon graduation. Together, we prepare OUSD students to thrive in a multilingual world.
Examples
World House Newcomer program – Tennyson High School
Dual Enrollment for English Learners: A Model for Implementation
(Dual Enrollment Equity Conference)
MLL & Dual Enrollment
(San Diego Dual Enrollment COP)
Opening the Dual Enrollment Door Wider for English Learners: A Case Study From Maryland
(CCRC)
Integrated ELD in the ELA Classroom
(San Bernardino)
Justice System Involved Youth
Rising Scholars Network
AB 417 authorized the Chancellor Office of the California Community Colleges to establish this program to enter into agreements with up to 50 community colleges to provide additional funds for services in support of postsecondary education for justice-involved students. The website provides resources and information that will help inform programs serving this population.
Rising Scholars Network Resources For Practitioners
Memo: ESLEI 24-74 Expanding Educational Opportunities for Justice-Involved Youth through Dual Enrollment
California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation (CDCR
Youth Justice Initiative Application Deep Dive + Dual Enrollment (Rising Scholars) (February 2nd, 2023)
Disability justice and the intersection of Rising Scholars and SAS/DSPS (Rising Scholars) (March 30th, 2023)
Employer Engagement
Our NFNRC Directors of Employer Partnerships work either in specific priority industry sectors or act as sector generalists at their assigned colleges to strengthen partnerships with employers. They work with their college economic & workforce development teams, career centers, faculty, student groups and administrators to increase job placement and work based learning opportunities like internships and apprenticeships for our students.
There are many opportunities for employers to partner with their local community college. Speaking in the classroom, mock interviews, participating in hiring events and career fairs, job shadowing, internship programs, and providing business tours are just a few of the ways to get involved.
Employers should contact their local community college for workforce partnership opportunities. The Directors of Employer Partnership are currently developing resources and toolkits to aid in strengthening these partnerships- coming soon!
