Fifth Year High School Concurrent Enrollment

Under current law, a qualified student who is selected to participate in the accelerating students through concurrent enrollment (ASCENT) program by the department of education (department) may enroll in postsecondary courses and be included in the pupil enrollment of a school district, board of cooperative services, or charter school (local education provider) for funding during the year following the student's fourth year of high school. The number of students who are selected to participate in the ASCENT program is limited each year through the budget process. The bill removes the limit on the number of program participants and allows each qualified student selected by the enrolling local education provider to participate in the program. The bill reduces the number of postsecondary credits a qualified student must have completed to be eligible to participate in the ASCENT program. The bill directs the department to distribute to each local education provider for each ASCENT program participant an amount equal to 3% of the per-pupil extended high school funding amount to pay for non-tuition expenses the qualified student incurs in participating in the postsecondary courses. Under existing law, a qualified student who fails to complete a concurrent enrollment course must repay the local education provider for the amount of tuition, and a local education provider may require a qualified student to repay the tuition amount if the qualified student earns a failing grade for a concurrent enrollment course. The bill repeals these provisions. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)