Substitute Bill No. 6869 seeks to enhance dual and concurrent enrollment opportunities for high school students in Connecticut by amending existing legislation. The bill allows local or regional boards of education to grant high school graduation credits for successful completion of dual enrollment or concurrent enrollment courses, in addition to other credit-earning pathways. It emphasizes the importance of local boards adopting policies to ensure the quality and rigor of online courses. Furthermore, the bill mandates the Department of Education to inform parents of students in grades eight to eleven about advanced curriculum opportunities annually, starting February 1, 2026, and requires local boards to establish eligibility criteria for advanced courses that consider multiple assessment methods beyond prior academic performance.

Additionally, the bill requires all higher education institutions offering concurrent enrollment courses to obtain accreditation from the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships by July 1, 2028, with new institutions needing to secure this accreditation within three years of launching their courses. Starting August 1, 2025, these institutions must also report detailed information about high school students enrolled in dual or concurrent enrollment courses to the Department of Education annually. The proposed legislation introduces new sections to current law, specifically amending 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