Kinsey, Cooper ‘dual enrollment’ bill ceremoniously signed
Rep. Stephen Kinsey January 30, 2024 | 9:36 AM
HARRISBURG, Jan. 30 – On Monday, state Reps. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., and Jill Cooper, R-Westmoreland, joined Gov. Josh Shapiro at the state Capitol for a ceremonial bill-signing of their legislation, H.B. 1258, which was officially signed into law on Dec. 14 as Act 52 of 2023.
The bill improves the funding mechanism for dual enrollment programs by removing the requirement that students enrolled in such programs be removed from the school’s average daily membership count.
Dual enrollment programs allow high school students to take college-level courses and earn college credit while still in high school.
In the funding mechanism for public schools prior to this bill’s passage, schools would lose out on funding if a student chooses to take a college level course – even if they remain physically at the school. The signing of this bill ensures this will no longer happen.
“School districts should not lose out on funding because their students enroll in one of these courses that propels their academic career while still at the high school,” Kinsey said. “Governor Shapiro has ensured to us that he is committed to providing Pennsylvania students with pathways to advance their education. We thank him for taking the necessary action to make this important bill an official law.”
“Programs like these excite students and parents, and schools shouldn’t face a bureaucratic financial penalty for offering them,” Cooper said. “Too often, we see good ideas fall to the wayside because we couldn’t work through the issues. But we were able to work through this issue, and Pennsylvania students are better off for it.”