Education, Administration

Rule R277-713

Concurrent Enrollment of High School Students in College Courses

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 34827
Filed: 05/16/2011 06:41:51 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

This rule is amended to provide procedures for Utah schools and Utah higher education institutions to coordinate advising to prospective and current high school students participating in concurrent enrollment. The rule provides language that requires public education and higher education to coordinate efforts to facilitate advising for concurrent enrollment students consistent with H.B. 288, 2011 General Session. (DAR NOTE: H.B. 288 (2011) was effective 05/10/2011.)

Summary of the rule or change:

The amendments provide language in Section R277-713-3 for Utah schools and Utah higher education institutions to coordinate advice and information for high school students who participate in the concurrent enrollment program, and provides language in Section R277-713-4 for Utah schools and Utah higher education institutions to jointly align information and technology systems so student information is tracked through both education systems.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Subsection 53A-1-401(3)
• Section 53A-17a-120.5
• Subsection 53A-1-402(1)(c)
• Art X, Sec 3

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There are no anticipated costs or savings to the state budget. Technology is already in place for tracking student information and any coordination of the program will be administered with existing staff within existing budgets.

local governments:

There are no anticipated costs or savings to the local government. Technology is already in place for tracking student information and any coordination of the program will be administered with existing staff within existing budgets.

small businesses:

There are no anticipated costs or savings to small businesses. This rule and the amendments apply to public education and do not affect businesses.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

There are no anticipated costs or savings to persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local government entities. Tracking student information and any coordination of the program is administered at the state and school district/school levels so individuals are not affected.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There are no compliance costs for affected persons. Technology is already in place for tracking student information and any coordination of the program will be administered with existing staff within existing budgets.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

I have reviewed this rule and I see no fiscal impact on businesses.

Larry K. Shumway, State Superintendent

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Education
Administration
250 E 500 S
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111-3272

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Carol Lear at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7835, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at carol.lear@schools.utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

07/01/2011

This rule may become effective on:

07/08/2011

Authorized by:

Carol Lear, Director, School Law and Legislation

R277. Education, Administration.

R277-713. Concurrent Enrollment of High School Students in College Courses.

R277-713-3. Student Eligibility.

A. Schools and USHE institutions shall jointly establish student eligibility requirements which shall be sufficiently selective to predict a successful experience.

B. Local schools have the primary responsibility for identifying students who are eligible to participate in concurrent enrollment classes.

C. To ensure that a student is prepared for college level work, an appropriate assessment shall be administered to the student prior to participation in all concurrent mathematics and English courses, and to determine that the student meets perquisites previously established for the same campus-based course by the sponsoring USHE institutions.

D. Each student participating in the concurrent enrollment program shall have a current student education/occupation plan (SEOP) on file at the participating school, as required under Section 53A-1a-106(2)(b).

E. Schools and USHE institutions shall jointly coordinate advice and information provided to a prospective or current high school student who participates in the concurrent enrollment program consistent with Section 53A-15-101. Advising shall include providing information on general education requirements at higher education institutions and assisting students or parents to efficiently choose concurrent enrollment courses to avoid duplication and excess credit hours.

 

R277-713-4. Courses and Student Participation.

A. The awarding of USHE institution credit for concurrent enrollment courses is the province of colleges and universities governed by USHE policies.

B. Concurrent enrollment offerings shall be limited to courses in English, mathematics, fine arts, humanities, science, social science, world languages, and career technical programs to allow a focus of energy and resources on quality instruction in these courses. However, there may be a greater variety of courses in the career technical education area. Concurrent Enrollment courses should assist students toward post-secondary degrees.

C. All concurrent enrollment courses shall be approved or orchestrated by the high school or the USOE and shall provide for waiver of fees to eligible students.

D. Only courses taken from a master list maintained by the Curriculum Section at the USOE shall be reimbursed from state concurrent enrollment funds.

E. [Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, t]The Board of Regents, after consultation with school districts/charter schools, shall provide the USOE with proposed new course offerings, including syllabi and curriculum materials by November 30 of the year preceding the school year in which courses shall be offered.

F. Concurrent enrollment funding shall be provided only for 1000 or 2000 level courses unless a student's SEOP identifies a student's readiness and preparation for a higher level course. This exception shall be individually approved by the student's counselor and school district or charter school concurrent enrollment administrator. Concurrent enrollment funding is not intended for unilateral parent/student initiated college attendance or course-taking.

G. Concurrent enrollment course offerings shall reflect the strengths and resources of the respective schools and USHE institutions and be based upon student needs. The number of courses selected shall be kept small enough to ensure coordinated statewide development and training activities for participating teachers.

H. Course content, procedures, examinations, teaching materials, and program monitoring shall be the responsibility of the appropriate USHE institution, shall be consistent with Utah law, and shall ensure quality and comparability with courses offered on the college or university campus.

I. Participation in concurrent enrollment generates higher education credit that becomes a part of a student's permanent college transcript.

J. Schools and USHE institutions shall jointly align information technology systems with all individual student academic achievement so that student information will be tracked through both education systems in accordance with Section 53A-1-603.5.

 

R277-713-5. Program Delivery.

A. Schools within the USHE that grant higher education/college credit may participate in the concurrent enrollment program, provided that such participation shall be consistent with the law and consistent with Board rules specific to the use of public education funds and rules for public education programs.

B. Concurrent enrollment courses shall be offered at the most appropriate location using the most appropriate methods for the course content, the faculty, and the students involved[, consistent with Section 53A-17a-120(2)(a)].

C. The delivery system and curriculum program shall be designed and implemented to take full advantage of the most current available educational technology.

D. Courses taken by students who have received a diploma, whose class has graduated or who have participated in graduation exercises are not eligible for concurrent enrollment funding. Senior students shall complete reimbursable concurrent enrollment courses prior to their graduation or participation in graduation exercises.

E. Concurrent enrollment is intended primarily for students in their last two years of high school.

(1) Concurrent enrollment may not include high school courses that are typically offered in grades 9 or 10.

(2) The Early College High School Program, specifically initiated to encourage students to earn college credit beginning in the ninth grade leading to a college diploma earned concurrently with a high school diploma, may enroll student Program participants in grades 9 and 10 in concurrent enrollment courses.

F. State reimbursement to school districts for concurrent enrollment courses may not exceed 30 semester hours per student per year.

G. Public schools/school districts shall use USOE designated 11-digit course codes for concurrent enrollment courses.

 

R277-713-8. Concurrent Enrollment Funding and Use of Concurrent Enrollment Funds.

A. Each district shall receive a pro-rated amount of the funds appropriated for concurrent enrollment according to the number of semester hours successfully completed by students registered through the district in the prior year compared to the state total of completed concurrent enrollment hours. Successfully completed means that a student received USHE credit for the course. Concurrent enrollment funds may not reimburse districts for repeated concurrent enrollment courses. Appropriate reimbursement may be verified at any reasonable time by USOE audit.

B. The funds shall first be allocated proportionally, based upon student credit hours delivered.

(1) Courses that are taught by public school educators: 60 percent of the funds shall be allocated to local school boards and charter schools, and 40 percent of the funds shall be allocated to the State Board of Regents.

(2) Courses taught by college or university faculty: 60 percent of the funds shall be allocated to the State Board of Regents, and 40 percent of the funds shall be allocated to local school boards and charter schools.

C. Each high school shall receive its proportional share of district concurrent enrollment monies allocated to the district pursuant to Section 53A-17a-120 based upon the hours of concurrent enrollment course work successfully completed by students on the high school campus as compared to the state total of completed concurrent enrollment hours.

D. Funds allocated to school districts for concurrent enrollment shall not be used for any other program.

E. District use of state funds for concurrent enrollment is limited to the following:

(1) aid in staff development of adjunct faculty in cooperation with the participating USHE institution;

(2) assistance with delivery costs for distance learning programs;

(3) participation in the costs of district or school personnel who work with the program;

(4) student textbooks and other instructional materials; and

(5) fee waivers for costs or expenses related to concurrent enrollment for fee waiver eligible students under R277-407.

(6) districts/charter schools may purchase classroom equipment required to conduct concurrent enrollment courses[, in the aggregate, not to exceed ten (10) percent of a district's/charter school's annual allocation of concurrent enrollment monies].

(7) other uses approved in writing by the USOE consistent with the law and purposes of this rule.

F. School districts/charter schools shall provide the USOE with end-of-year expenditures reports itemized by the categories identified in R277-713-8D.

 

R277-713-9. Annual Contracts and Other Student Instruction Issues.

A. Collaborating school districts/charter schools and USHE institutions shall negotiate annual contracts including:

(1) the courses offered;

(2) the location of the instruction;

(3) the teacher;

(4) student eligibility requirements;

(5) course outlines;

(6) texts, and other materials needed; and

(7) the administrative and supervisory services, in-service education, and reporting mechanisms to be provided by each party to the contract.

(a) each school district/charter school shall provide an annual report to the USOE regarding supervisory services and professional development provided by a USHE institution.

(b) each school district/charter school shall provide an annual report to the USOE indicating that all concurrent enrollment instructors are in compliance with R277-713-7B and C.

B. A school district/charter school shall provide a copy of the annual contract entered into between a school district/charter school and a USHE institution for the upcoming school year no later than May 30 annually.

C. The annual concurrent enrollment agreement between a USHE institution and a school district/charter school who has responsibility shall:

(1) provide for parental permission for students to participate in concurrent enrollment classes, which includes notice to parents that participation in concurrent enrollment courses count toward a student's college record/transcript,

(2) provide for the entity responsible for parent notification about concurrent enrollment purpose(s) and student and family privacy protections; and

(3) provide for discussion and training, as necessary, to all concurrent enrollment instructors about student information, student records laws, and student confidentiality.

[ D. This rule shall be effective on the date posted with the Division of Administrative Rules, and shall apply to students who enroll in course work beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, and continuing thereafter.

]

KEY: students, curricula, higher education

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [August 7, 2009]2011

Notice of Continuation: September 6, 2007

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3; 53A-17a-120.5 ; 53A-1-402(1)(c); 53A-1-401(3)