Substitute Bill No. 6869 seeks to enhance dual and concurrent enrollment opportunities for high school students in Connecticut by amending existing laws related to high school graduation requirements. The bill repeals and replaces subsection (h) of section 10-221a, allowing local or regional boards of education to grant credit for various educational experiences, including dual and concurrent enrollment courses. The new legal language emphasizes mastery of subject matter through flexible learning pathways and includes provisions for credit recovery programs and online coursework. Additionally, it requires local boards to approve student enrollment in these courses and mandates the Department of Education to inform parents of students in grades eight to eleven about available challenging curriculum opportunities.

Moreover, the bill establishes new accreditation requirements for institutions offering concurrent enrollment courses, mandating that they obtain accreditation from the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships by July 1, 2028. New institutions must achieve this accreditation within three years of launching their courses, with the possibility of extensions from the Department of Education. Starting August 1, 2025, these institutions are also required to report detailed information about high school students enrolled in dual or concurrent enrollment courses to the Department of Education annually. The bill introduces amendments to sections 10-221a(h), 10-221x(d), and 10-221w, with effective dates ranging from January 1, 2026, to July 1, 2026, aiming to improve the quality and accountability of concurrent enrollment programs in the state.

Statutes affected:
Governor's Bill: 10-221x, 10-221w
HED Joint Favorable Substitute: 10-221x, 10-221w
File No. 230: 10-221x, 10-221w
ED Joint Favorable: 10-221x, 10-221w