High schools offering dual enrollment courses would be subject to new standards under a bill heard by the Education Committee Jan. 29.<\/p>\n
Scottsbluff Sen. John Harms said he introduced LB116 because there is a need for consistency and rigor among high school courses earning college credit.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is ongoing evidence in Nebraska that dual enrollment courses are a key strategy in addressing our future economic needs,\u201d he said. \u201cThis bill provides the needed standards.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cStudents that earn dual credit persist and graduate college in higher numbers,\u201d Holcomb said. \u201cAdhering to high standards ensures that parents and students can trust the end product.\u201d<\/p>\n
Currently any instructor of a dual enrollment course must have a master\u2019s degree with at least six credit hours of graduate-level study in the course content area. LB116 would increase this requirement to a master\u2019s degree with at least 18 credit hours of content area study.<\/p>\n
Nebraska State College System chancellor Stan Carpenter opposed the bill, saying the new instructor requirements would severely limit students\u2019 access to courses, especially in rural areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis bill would dictate who we could hire,\u201d he said. \u201cThis imposes upon the governance and management authority of the board.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brian Halstead, representing the state Department of Education, also opposed the bill, saying it far exceeds established standards for dual enrollment instructors.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis bill may go beyond what the institutions and the people in the field are ready for without being involved in the conversation,\u201d Bonaiuto said.<\/p>\n
The committee took no immediate action on the bill.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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