The purpose of the rule is to implement Section 1007.271, Florida Statutes, relating to dual enrollment programs and to delineate the responsibilities of the Department, postsecondary institutions, and school districts as required by legislation.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
State Board of Education

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
6A-14.064: Dual Enrollment/Early College Programs
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the rule is to implement Section 1007.271, Florida Statutes, relating to dual enrollment programs and to delineate the responsibilities of the Department, postsecondary institutions, and school districts as required by legislation.
SUMMARY: The proposed rule will delineate implementation requirements for postsecondary institutions and school districts offering dual enrollment courses as authorized by Section 1007.271, Florida Statutes which addresses dual enrollment programs. The rule will codify standards for student eligibility, faculty, curriculum, environment, accountability and assessment, and strategic planning.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 1007.271(3), (9), 1001.02(2), (6) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1007.271 FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: January 19, 2010, 9:30 a.m.
PLACE: Tampa, Florida. Please contact Lynn Abbott at [e-mail] for specific location.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Julie Alexander, Division of Florida Colleges, Department of Education, telephone: [phone] or Email: [e-mail]

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

6A-14.064 College Credit Dual Enrollment.

(1) To be eligible to receive college credit through dual enrollment:

(a) Students must meet the grade point average (GPA) requirements, as specified in Section 1007.271, Florida Statutes, for the degree or certificate program selected. Procedures for determining exceptions to the GPA requirements on an individual student basis must be noted in the District Interinstitutional Articulation Agreement as required by Section 1007.235, Florida Statutes.

(b) Students must satisfy the college preparatory testing requirements of Rule 6A-10.0315, F.A.C. Before accumulating more than twelve (12) credit hours, students must either meet established minimum scores on all sections of a postsecondary readiness assessment, or earn a passing score on the Basic Skills Exit Test as required by Section 1008.30, Florida Statutes, and complete each of the following high school courses with a grade of C or better: Mathematics for College Success (1200410), Reading for College Success (1008350) and Writing for College Success (10009370).

(c) For joint dual enrollment and Advanced Placement (AP) courses, as authorized in Section 1007.272, Florida Statutes, students must comply with the add/drop policies and deadlines of the postsecondary institution. A student who elects to enroll in an AP course that is jointly offered with a dual enrollment course may not earn postsecondary credit for that course through dual enrollment.

(d) In order to remain eligible for college credit coursework, students must maintain the high school GPA required for initial eligibility unless otherwise noted in the District Interinstitutional Articulation Agreement.

(e) Participation of exceptional student education (ESE) students must be in accordance with statutory eligibility requirements and with the procedural guidelines, and district-college responsibilities delineated in the District Interinstitutional Articulation Agreement.

(f) Districts and colleges may agree to extend dual enrollment participation in Student Life Skills (designated as SLS course prefix in the Statewide Course Numbering System) courses to students who do not meet the statutory eligibility requirements, if alternate eligibility requirements are delineated in the District Interinstitutional Articulation Agreement.

(g) In order to be considered a full-time dual enrollment early admission student, the student must enroll in a minimum of twelve (12) college credit hours, but may not be required to enroll in more than fifteen (15) college credit hours.

(2) The following requirements shall apply to faculty providing instruction in college credit dual enrollment courses:

(a) All full-time or adjunct faculty teaching dual enrollment courses must meet Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges’ Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement, 2008 Edition, section 3.7.1, for postsecondary instructors in the course and discipline, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The document may be accessed at http://www.sacscoc.org/pdf/2008PrinciplesofAccreditation.pdf. These criteria apply to all faculty teaching postsecondary courses regardless of the physical location of the course being taught. The postsecondary institution awarding credit shall ensure faculty teaching dual enrollment courses meet these qualifications.

(b) Postsecondary transcripts of all full-time or adjunct faculty teaching dual enrollment courses must be filed with the postsecondary institution, regardless of who employs or pays the faculty member’s salary.

(c) All full-time and adjunct faculty teaching dual enrollment courses shall be provided with a copy of the current faculty or adjunct faculty handbook of the postsecondary institution, and shall adhere to the professional guidelines, rules, and expectations therein. Any exceptions to such requirements must be noted in the District Interinstitutional Articulation Agreement.

(d) All full-time and adjunct faculty teaching dual enrollment courses shall be provided with a current student handbook detailing information that includes, but is not limited to, add/drop and withdrawal policies, student code of conduct, grading policies, and critical dates, and shall adhere to the guidelines, rules, and expectations therein. Any exceptions to such requirements must be noted in the District Interinstitutional Articulation Agreement.

(e) All adjunct faculty teaching dual enrollment courses shall be provided with a full-time faculty contact or liaison in the same discipline.

(f) All full-time and adjunct faculty teaching dual enrollment courses, regardless of location of instruction, shall be observed by a designee of the college president and evaluated based on the same criteria used for all other full-time or adjunct faculty delivering college courses at that institution.

(g) The postsecondary institution shall provide all full-time and adjunct faculty teaching dual enrollment courses with a copy of course plans and objectives for the college course they are teaching. In addition, faculty shall be provided with information on additional requirements related to Rule 6A-10.030, F.A.C., if applicable. All course objectives and identified competencies must be included in the course plan and covered per the syllabus during the term.

(h) All full-time and adjunct faculty teaching dual enrollment courses shall file a copy of their current course syllabus with the college’s discipline chair or department chair prior to the start of each term. Content of the syllabus must meet the same criteria as required for all college courses offered at that institution.

(3) The following curriculum standards for content, syllabi, exams, and grades shall apply to college credit dual enrollment:

(a) Dual enrollment courses taught on the high school campus must meet all competencies expected and outlined in the postsecondary course plan. To ensure equivalent rigor with on-campus courses, final examinations for all dual enrollment courses taught or delivered on the high school campus must be developed by full-time postsecondary faculty at the institution granting postsecondary credit, and approved by the appropriate curriculum or department chair as a comprehensive assessment of expected learning outcomes. Final exams will be provided to the high school campus dual enrollment course instructor by the college in a timely manner to ensure availability prior to scheduled administration dates. Completed, scored exams will be returned to the postsecondary institution and held on file for a period of one (1) year.

(b) Textbooks and instructional materials used in dual enrollment courses must be the same or comparable with those used with other postsecondary courses at the postsecondary institution with the same course prefix and number. The postsecondary institution will advise the school district of instructional material requirements as soon as that information becomes available, but no later than one term prior to a course being offered.

(c) Course requirements such as tests, papers, or other assignments for dual enrollment students must be at the same level of rigor or depth as those for all non-dual enrollment postsecondary students. All full-time and adjunct faculty teaching dual enrollment courses must observe postsecondary institution procedures and deadlines for submission of grades in the appropriate format. All faculty will be advised of postsecondary institution-wide grading guidelines prior to teaching a dual enrollment course.

(d) Policies relating to dual enrollment course withdrawals and repeats shall be determined by the college and must be clearly delineated in the District Interinstitutional Articulation Agreement.

(4) The following environmental standards shall apply to college credit dual enrollment:

(a) Dual enrollment courses taught on a high school campus shall ensure minimal interruptions of instructional time. Student behavior that is disruptive to the learning environment may result in that student’s loss of dual enrollment eligibility.

(b) Dual enrollment courses may not be combined with other high school courses, except in accordance with Section 1007.272, Florida Statutes.

(c) A formalized process between the high school counselor and the college must be delineated in the District Interinstitutional Articulation Agreement for informing students and parents or guardians of college course-level expectations, including, but not limited to the following:

1. Any letter grade below a “C” will not count as credit toward satisfaction of the General Education graduation requirement and the requirements in Rule 6A-10.030, F.A.C.; however, all grades are calculated in a student’s GPA and will appear on their college transcript.

2. All grades, including “W” for withdrawal, become a part of the student’s permanent college transcript and may affect subsequent postsecondary admission.

3. While appropriate for college-level study, course materials and class discussions may reflect topics not typically included in secondary courses which some parents may object to for minors. Courses will not be modified to accommodate variations in student age and/or maturity.

4. The selection of courses to meet degree requirements, including approved program common prerequisite courses, in order to minimize student and state costs for excess hours.

5. The inclusion of dual enrollment course plans in their Electronic Personal Educational Planner (ePEP), as required by Section 1003.413(3)(i), Florida Statutes, to minimize enrollment in a random selection of college courses.

(5) The following accountability and assessment standards shall apply to college credit dual enrollment:

(a) Postsecondary institutions shall analyze student performance in dual enrollment to ensure that the level of preparation and future success is comparable with non- dual enrollment postsecondary students. Analyses and recommendations shall be shared and reviewed with the principal and local school district.

(b) High schools shall analyze course and instructor evaluations for dual enrollment courses on the high school campus. Analyses and recommendations shall be shared and reviewed by both the college and the high school.

(c) Any course-, discipline-, college-, or system-wide assessments that a postsecondary institution requires in non-dual enrollment sections of a course shall also be used in all dual enrollment sections of the course.

(d) Colleges shall compare student performance, to include final grade and exam, of dual enrollment course offerings on high school campuses and college campuses to ensure that results are comparable to non-dual enrollment sections. Results will be made available to the principal, local school district, the college president, and the Department of Education.

Rulemaking Authority 1007.271(3), (9), 1001.02(2), (6) FS. Law Implemented 1007.271 FS. History–New________.

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Dr. Willis Holcombe, Chancellor, Division of Florida Colleges, Department of Education
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Dr. Eric J. Smith, Commissioner of Education
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: December 9, 2009
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: October 23, 2009