Equity Starts with Quality: The Essential Role of State Policy in Shaping the Future of Dual Enrollment

Without Quality, There is No Equity

Many states have pushed programs to expand access and engagement in dual enrollment and have celebrated the increased enrollment numbers. However, much of this growth has come without adjusting the underlying state policy, funding, accountability systems to help ensure that programs have the resources and policy support they need to do the work well and in a high quality way. Policymakers have a vital role in ensuring that policy, regulations, and funding mechanisms are aligned with the realities of the significant investment of time and resources necessary, on both the secondary and postsecondary partners, to offer quality dual enrollment programs.

State investment is critical and should be tightly tied to strategy. Without a vision for what the state wants to accomplish through these programs, a mechanism to measure progress, and a framework of expectations to guide and ensure program quality, these vital state investments can lead to further entrenchment of disparity and propagate inequity for a whole new generation of students. NACEP works to help empower states to understand their potential role in quality assurance to better protect the students who invest their time, energy, and future aspirations in dual enrollment.