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Accelerated College Credit Programs: Improving High School Graduation and College Enrollment Rates, Reducing Need for Developmental Education Courses

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Intervention Details

Subject

Non-Academic Area

Academic Programs

Early College, College Preparatory

Duration

N/A

Grades

9, 10, 11, 12

Personnel

College Instructor

Intervention Summary

Accelerated college credit programs, including dual enrollment, concurrent enrollment, and Advanced Placement (AP) test-taking, are designed to enable high school students to earn college credit. These programs aim to improve high school graduation and college enrollment rates, as well as reduce the need for developmental education courses. Dual enrollment allows students to attend college courses taught by college faculty, while concurrent enrollment involves high school instructors teaching college-level courses. AP test-taking is based on a standardized assessment, with many colleges granting credits based on scores. The programs are intended to target high school students, particularly those who are economically disadvantaged, racial/ethnic minorities, or high academic achievers in grade 8.

Statistical Finding Summary

Positive effect on high school graduation

Positive effect on college enrollment

Positive effect on avoiding developmental education courses

Positive effect on high school graduation for economically disadvantaged students

Positive effect on college enrollment for economically disadvantaged students

Positive effect on avoiding developmental education courses for economically disadvantaged students

Each of the three accelerated college credit programs is associated with increased predicted high school graduation rates

Each of the three accelerated college credit programs is associated with increased predicted college enrollment rates

Advanced Placement test-taking is associated with a larger increase in predicted college enrollment rates than dual enrollment.

Source

Jessica, B., Katherine A., S., Makoto, H. & Xinxin, Z. (2021). The Effects of Accelerated College Credit Programs on Educational Attainment in Rhode Island. REL 2021-103 (ED612887). ERIC. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED612887.pdf.

Data Sample by Population

These charts show the characteristics of the student populations studied. When assessing programs, you may want to prioritize interventions that yielded success in a similar demographic environment as your school or district.

The subgroup population data as studied here are not available. That means that while this study may work well for your setting, we cannot say based on the published study and results from our system’s reading of that study what the school/district subgroup characteristics were when evaluated here.