A bill presented last week in the House would provide $22 million over the next two years for all schools to expand concurrent enrollment or College in the Schools programing. The bill requires participation and expenditure information for career and technical education courses offered as a concurrent enrollment course.
It allows 9th and 10th grade students to apply to enroll in a concurrent enrollment course, subject to the approval of the affected school district and the postsecondary institution and removes the limits on postsecondary enrollment options course taking for students not on track to graduate.
HF1217 funds the Office of Higher Education and the Department of Education to develop and expand concurrent enrollment courses, including courses in career and technical education, disseminate information, and provide teacher training.
The House Education Finance Committee heard HF1217 on Tuesday. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL-Minneapolis), has bipartisan support and was laid over for possible consideration in the education finance omnibus bill.
MREA and other education groups have been working with the Senate companion author, Sen. Greg Clausen (DFL-Apple Valley) and the bill was also laid over on the Senate side earlier this session.