Kinsey, Cooper bill to foster dual enrollment approved by Education Committee
Rep. Stephen Kinsey June 30, 2023 | 10:33 AM
HARRISBURG, June 30 – On Wednesday, legislation (H.B. 1258) introduced by state Reps. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., and Jill Cooper, R-Westmoreland, was unanimously approved by the House Education Committee and will head to the full House for future consideration.
House Bill 1258 proposes improvements to the current law pertaining to dual enrollment programs in Pennsylvania schools by temporarily removing the requirement that students enrolled in such programs are removed from the school’s average daily membership.
State regulations require public schools that offer dual enrollment as part of the high school program to pro rate the students when calculating average daily membership for the time the student spends at the postsecondary institution, unless the public school pays the tuition, fees and textbooks on behalf of the student.
The bill would allow public schools to fully include students who participate in a college in the high school program in their ADM regardless of whether the public school pays the tuition, fees and textbooks for the student.
“It’s important that we allow students to have as many pathways to a successful education as possible,” Kinsey said. “Currently, students participating in ADM’s aren’t able to get the full credit they deserve for their work, and our legislation would ensure they get their earned credit.”
“Requiring students be removed from their school’s daily count creates a disincentive for school districts to have dual enrollment programs,” Cooper said. “Harrisburg shouldn’t be hindering innovation; we should be fostering it.”
Both members pointed out that as dual enrollment has evolved, more secondary schools are offering students dual enrollment opportunities within the high school building. These classes could be advanced placement courses taught by a high school instructor that have been certified by an institution of higher education as meeting the requirements for college credits, or a high school instructor, approved by the institution of higher education, may be teaching a college-level course at the high school.
Kinsey and Cooper serve as co-chairs for the House Bipartisan Caucus. By introducing the bill together, they affirmed their intentions of working in a bipartisan fashion to move important bills forward.
“I want to thank Representative Cooper for asking me to be part of this important legislation that will help students across Pennsylvania,” Kinsey said. “When we come together as Democrats and Republicans in a bipartisan fashion, we can help move Pennsylvania forward!”
“A proposal like this is bipartisan for good reason. It addresses a very specific need that holds back Pennsylvania students from very worthwhile programs,” said Cooper. “Fixing a problem like this transcends party lines.”