Stronger standards for dual enrollment courses proposed

High schools offering dual enrollment courses would be subject to new standards under a bill heard by the Education Committee Jan. 29.

Scottsbluff Sen. John Harms said he introduced LB116 because there is a need for consistency and rigor among high school courses earning college credit.

Under the bill, a dual enrollment course taught to high school students must follow the same course syllabus, textbook, course outline and student assessment as a comparable college course.

“There is ongoing evidence in Nebraska that dual enrollment courses are a key strategy in addressing our future economic needs,” he said. “This bill provides the needed standards.”

Todd Holcomb, president of Western Nebraska Community College, said he supported the bill because offering high quality courses will pay dividends for years to come.

“Students that earn dual credit persist and graduate college in higher numbers,” Holcomb said. “Adhering to high standards ensures that parents and students can trust the end product.”

Currently any instructor of a dual enrollment course must have a master’s degree with at least six credit hours of graduate-level study in the course content area. LB116 would increase this requirement to a master’s degree with at least 18 credit hours of content area study.

Nebraska State College System chancellor Stan Carpenter opposed the bill, saying the new instructor requirements would severely limit students’ access to courses, especially in rural areas.

“This bill would dictate who we could hire,” he said. “This imposes upon the governance and management authority of the board.”

Brian Halstead, representing the state Department of Education, also opposed the bill, saying it far exceeds established standards for dual enrollment instructors.

Nebraska Association of School Boards representative John Bonaiuto testified in a neutral capacity. He said the bill is well intentioned but may have unintended consequences.

“This bill may go beyond what the institutions and the people in the field are ready for without being involved in the conversation,” Bonaiuto said.

The committee took no immediate action on the bill.