Cedar Vale High School Dual Enrollment Handbook 2022-2023
Dear Parents, We are excited to be able to offer many options for your student to earn high school and college credit while at Cedar Vale High School through dual enrollment. Dual enrollment allows high school students to take tuition-waived or reduced college courses while still in high school. Courses count both as high school and college credit. One college course will count as .5 credits per semester towards a student's high school credit. This handbook is designed to answer many questions regarding dual enrollment options and will provide the policies for the school. Students should understand that dual enrollment courses are college courses. There is potential for a far greater workload than that of a regular high school course. In addition, dual enrollment courses become a part of a student’s permanent college transcript. Poor performance in dual enrollment courses may affect college admission and financial aid. If you have an interest in exploring this dual enrollment option, please work with Mr. Wachter to set up a plan that will give you the opportunity to participate in dual enrollment in high school. As always, please do not hesitate to contact us at 620-758-2791.
STEPS TO DUAL ENROLLMENT
1. Obtain and complete with your counselor the dual enrollment packet, which is available in the Counselor’s Office as well as the Cowley County Community College website at https://www.cowley.edu/admissions/hspartners.html. Complete an admissions application to the Cowley County Community College. The college applications are available online at https://www.cowley.edu/apply/index.html.
2. Have the college courses you are hoping to take approved by your high school counselor and principal. You must have these approved if you are interested in utilizing the reimbursement program at CVHS.
3. Upon approval of the college courses by the high school counselor and principal, get registered for the classes. There is a representative at CCCC that takes care of this process, however it is imperative that the student is well informed of what the class will entail in order to avoid dropping the class or failing the class.
Eligibility per CCCC
● Be a high school sophomore, junior, or senior, or a “gifted” 9th grade student.
● Hold a minimum high school cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75 on a four-point scale.
● Meet minimum reading assessment guidelines. (ACT reading score of 18 or equivalent proficiency on the ACCUPLACER assessment instrument.)
● Meet additional assessment requirements for Math & English courses (21 Math ACT and 20 English ACT). Note: In order for High School students to enroll in Composition I, they need to meet the assessment requirements as well as have completed High School English III with a minimum of C and a cumulative GPA 3.0 or higher.
● Complete a FastTrack Permission Form and a FastTrack Enrollment Form and obtain the required signatures on both forms granting permission to enroll in college courses.
Eligibility per CVHS
Cowley County Community College and/or dual College Course and/or Vo-Tech Students may receive administrator permission to participate in the concurrent program in dual credit educational programs. The student must be in good standing, and meet the Cowley College Placement/Assessment Criteria. This criteria information may be found in the Counselor’s Office. Students must be in good standing, demonstrate good school attendance and have few discipline referrals. Applications will be submitted to the building principal for approval. Applications for the next academic year shall be submitted to the principal no later than the end of May or with prior administrative permission. The student and parent/guardian will be notified within thirty days of the building's decision. These courses must be a semester in length. If a student drops a course that course may be replaced with either an approved online or CVS course. All course changes either online or on campus must be determined within the first week of the semester following the district calendar. Students failing to replace a dropped course will receive a grade of “F” on their transcript. Students enrolled in an online/IDL college course must sign a release form that will allow Cedar Vale USD #285 to obtain grades and grade updates from the college. College grades will only be reported/recorded as per semester grades, .5 credit per course. Students/parents will be responsible for all tuition, fees, and direct costs associated with the online, on site and IDL college courses. All courses from outside institutions must be pre-approved by the principal and counselor. Cedar Vale USD #285 desires to provide flexible learning opportunities for all students while maintaining the integrity of the high school curriculum and programs. Students/Guardians are responsible for individual transportation if required. Vo-Tech transportation is provided with exceptions for Friday, weekend or night sessions. Student failing to meet the requirements set forth in the student/parent/school agreement will be required to pay all expenses and complete Cedar Vale USD #285 curriculum requirements in order to complete graduation
requirements.
Enrollment
Two months before the start of the term, the student or his/her parents must complete and submit the Dual Enrollment Request Form to the Counselor which signifies the student’s intent to participate in the program for the following school year. Failure to meet this deadline shall exclude your child from the program for that term unless a waiver is granted by the Superintendent. You may withdraw from participation at any time upon written notification to the high school Counselor. You and your child are to identify the appropriate postsecondary courses prior to the start of the first class session of the semester at the postsecondary institution. Once the first class session has been held, your child may not change the selected courses during the period of that school year, regardless of the number of courses taken
Credit Options
Students will be able to elect to take courses for college credit only, for high school credit only, or for both high school and college credit. The student shall designate the type of credit desired at the time of enrollment and shall notify both the high school and the postsecondary institution of the designation. An eligible student taking more than one (1) eligible course may make different credit designations for different courses
Financial Arrangements
Recommended Funding Reimbursement for College Classes Cedar Vale Schools will reimburse the cost of one three (3) hour course tuition/fees up to $165. If a student elects to take a second course then Cedar Vale Schools will reimburse the tuition/fee cost up to $80. The following criteria must be met or documented in order to receive the reimbursement. 1. A grade of C or better must be on file with a copy of transcript. (Transcript can be unofficial) 2. Student is in good standing with the college. 3. Books and supplies will be the students' responsibility. 4. The reimbursement is designed to cover fees and tuition that is not covered by SB 155. 5. Students must provide documentation that the tuition/fees have been paid and must be turned into Josie in the district office. 6. We will budget $5000 a semester for reimbursement. In the event the budget is reduced the funds available will be distributed equally among candidates based on the first three hours completed. (Not to exceed the $165/per three-hour course)
Process for Granting Academic Credits
When students have elected to receive high school credit for postsecondary institution courses, credit will be awarded .5 credits per semester, per course for successful completion of courses in accordance with the following guidelines:
A. The principal shall require your child to submit a course syllabus or detailed description of each postsecondary institution course taken so that a comparison can be made with existing high school courses.
B. If the principal determines that the postsecondary institution course is comparable to one offered by the high school, the equivalent high school credit shall be granted.
C. If the principal determines that the postsecondary institution course is not comparable to one offered by the high school, credit shall be granted in a subject area similar to that taken by your child at the postsecondary institution.
D. In the event that the student or parents contest the credit, the Superintendent shall determine the appropriate credit. The Superintendent's decision shall be final and binding.
E. Students who enroll in a postsecondary institution course for both high school and postsecondary institution credit will receive on their high school transcript the grade issued by the postsecondary institution and the appropriate grade will be calculated in the student’s G.P.A. Please see the weighting criteria below for more information
Weighted Grades for College Courses
College courses taken for dual-enrollment credit may receive weighted grades if they meet the following criteria: 1) The college course must be in a core content area (English, Math, Science, or Social Studies) and it must meet or exceed the highest level course offered at PHS. 2) The college course must be of similar rigor to an Advanced Placement class. For example, a beginning Psychology class at college is comparable to taking a beginning Psychology class in high school and would not be weighted. A college course comparable in rigor to AP Psychology would be weighted. 3) Also weighted would be a college course at or above a 300 level or a course equivalent to an AP course not currently offered at PHS such as Macroeconomics. 4) All courses that are to receive weighted credit must have prior approval from the high school administration and the student's counselor. If a request to weight a course is denied, the student may petition the principal in writing who will designate a committee to review the syllabus of the college course in question. The decision of the committee is binding.
Consequences for Failing or Not Completing a Course
MCL 388.514(9) and MCL 388.1904(9) states that the eligible student shall repay to the school district any funds that were expended by the school district for the course that are not refunded to the school district by the eligible postsecondary institution. If the eligible student does not repay this money, the school district may impose sanctions against the eligible student as determined by school district policy. This subdivision does not apply to an eligible student who does not complete the course due to a family or medical emergency, as determined by the eligible postsecondary institution. Books Eligible students enrolling in a postsecondary course for dual college and high school credit the book cost responsibility lies with the student. Reporting of Grades Grades earned in college courses will be reported on the high school transcript as the letter grade earned unless a credit / no credit option is approved by the principal prior to the start of the college course. A student must demonstrate significant need in order to qualify for the credit/no credit option.
Dual Enrollment Course Limits
Students must adhere to the following limits when signing up for a dual enrollment course: • Limited to 10 for high school career • If the students starts in 9th grade, maximum of 2 per year in 9th , 10th , and 11 th grade; maximum of 4 in 12th grade • If the student starts in 10th grade, maximum of 2 per year in 10th grade, 4 in 11 th , and 4 in 12th • If the student starts in 11 th grade, maximum of 6 in either 11 th or 12th grades and a maximum of 10 total • If the student starts in 12th grade, maximum of 6 in 12th grade
Assessment and Course Placement
Cowley College offers many programs, services, and classroom activities to promote and support student connections and success in the learning process. Mandatory assessment and placement in basic skills courses is an important first step. Ensuring that students begin academic courses at the appropriate level is critical in helping students become involved in the learning process. Such placement allows students to connect with other students with common academic challenges and abilities as well as build the necessary academic skills to move forward.
1. Students who are seeking a degree or certificate or are registering for twelve (12) or more credit hours are required to complete placement tests in English reading, English writing, and mathematics. Students registering for fewer than twelve (12) credit hours are required to complete placement tests in English reading, English writing, and mathematics prior to registering for English Composition or math courses, or after attempting twelve (12) credit hours. Once the student has attempted twelve (12) credit hours, they will be put on “Assessment Hold” and not allowed to enroll until assessment requirements are fulfilled. All or part of testing may be waived by providing documentation of one of the following:
● For English writing: An ACT English score of 20 or higher.
● For English reading: An ACT Reading score of 18 or higher.
● For College-level Mathematics: An ACT Mathematics score of 21 or higher. (Placement for College Algebra with Review or Intermediate Algebra ACT 17 - 20.)
● A college degree from an accredited institution. Appropriate mathematics and English courses must have been taken.
● An official college transcript from the last three years listing the writing, math, or reading prerequisite courses completed with a grade of a C or better.
● Assessment results within the last three years from another institution.
2. After students are assessed, they are placed into the appropriate course. Students must successfully complete the required course(s) to move to the next level of coursework. Once a student begins a math course sequence, they cannot retest or skip a course level. Placement is enforced through the student registration system. It is also monitored after grades are posted at the end of each semester. Students who do not complete required coursework with a grade of C or better are notified and required to re-register for the course.
3. Cowley College provides students with the opportunity to retest one time at the beginning of their course sequence if they feel their initial assessment results do not adequately reflect their ability. The fee for retesting is $5. If the student still feels the placement is inaccurate, they may appeal to the Student Affairs Committee. This committee will review any evidence submitted by the student and make a final decision regarding the student’s appropriate placement. The decisions made by the Student Affairs Committee will be final.
College Forms for students