Equitable Access to Dual Enrollment for Private School Students Becomes Law

One of the FCCB's key priorities for the 2021 Legislative Session was increasing access to dual enrollment courses for non-public high school students. On June 24, Governor DeSantis signed into law SB 52 by Senator Ray Rodrigues, R-Fort Myers, providing equitable access to dual enrollment courses for all Florida high school students. The bill and its companion, HB 281 by Representative Wyman Duggan, R-Jacksonville, were strongly supported by the FCCB during the session. Dual enrollment courses allow high school students to take college-level courses while they are still in high school. Usually, these courses are taken on the college or university campus during the normal school day. Under previous law, public school and home school students had free, unencumbered access to dual enrollment courses; however, private school students had very limited access. 

"Dual Enrollment has significant academic benefits for students, and this bill gives students equal access to these benefits regardless of where they attend school," said Michael Barrett, FCCB associate for education, in a recent blog post by redefinED.