Part III – Dual Enrollment – Accel Participants – 2012-2013
Part III: ACCEL Participants - TO BE DISCUSSED WITH THE STUDENT AND HIS / HER PARENTS / GUARDIANS IN CONSULTATION WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELOR
Student participation in the dual enrollment program is a voluntary student choice. Because this choice exists for students, it is the responsibility of the student and the parent / guardian to be knowledgeable about the program and its positive and negative effects upon high school graduation. The remainder of this document will explain the Dual Enrollment and the Accel program and their implications for students.
School officials may discuss with the postsecondary institution the academic, emotional, social, and other characteristics of the student that should be considered in the decision to enroll the student.
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*Must be initialed by the school official (SO), the student (S), and the parent / guardian (P / G).
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______ELIGIBILITY
SO S P/G
To be eligible for participation in the Accel program, a student must:
a. Be classified as a high school junior or senior seeking a high school diploma from an eligible Effingham County high school, or be a high school freshman or sophomore who meets the specific academic requirements of the Accel program regulations. Ninth and tenth graders may participate if they have earned a 3.50 cumulative GPA, have been approved by the student’s high school and postsecondary institution for Dual Enrollment, and the high school has certified that the student has exhausted all core coursework required for graduation in any one or more core subject areas (English, Mathematics, Social Science, Science and Foreign Language),
b. Be enrolled in an eligible college or university or public technical college as a dual credit student taking approved college degree-level course work leading to an Associate or Baccalaureate Degree,
c. Be a legal resident of Georgia,
d. Meet U.S. citizenship requirements, as explained in the Accel program regulations, located on the GAcollege411 web site,
e. Be registered with Selective Service, if required,
f. Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990,
g. Not be in default or owe a refund on any student financial aid program, and
h. Maintain satisfactory academic progress, as defined by the college and the high school. A student whose post-secondary transcript indicates a failing grade will become ineligible for dual enrollment in the subsequent semester(s).
- Accel is not available during the summer.
______COMPLETION OF HIGH SCHOOL COURSES
SO S P/G
1. Accel students are limited to courses available from the core graduation requirements for college preparatory students: English, mathematics, science, social studies and foreign language. A directory of approved courses is available on the Georgia Student Finance website (www.gsfc.org).
2. A student will enroll in courses selected from the approved postsecondary course catalog to satisfy requirements.
3. A student must be enrolled in and pass combined high school and post-secondary coursework equivalent to earn a minimum of six Carnegie units per school year with a minimum of three per semester. Exceptions will be considered on an individual basis. Full-time enrollment as defined by the high school may not equate to full-time enrollment as defined by the post-secondary institution.
______ ASSESSMENT
SO S P/G
1. The student is required to take the state assessments as defined by the Georgia Department of Education. The state assessments (Georgia High School Graduation Tests and State End-of-Course Tests) are based on the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) and the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (CCGPS).
2. Students are required to pass all of the Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT) or State End-of-Course Tests in content areas in order to receive a high school diploma.
3. The courses taken by the student at a college / university/ technical college will contain some but not all of the concepts and topics taught in the high school. NOTE: High school courses by law must be based on the Georgia Performance Standards or Common Core Georgia Performance Standards. College courses and technical college courses do not have to meet this requirement; therefore, the student may experience some problem in passing the state assessment exam.
4. Students are responsible for making arrangements with both their high school as well as their post-secondary institution to take the state assessment exams.
5. When a student completes a dual enrollment post-secondary course as an equivalency to a high school required core course, and that high school course is one for which the state also requires completion of a state end-of-course test (SEOCT), the student will be required to take the required SEOCT in that subject. In accordance with system policy, the final course grade will be calculated based on the course grade weight of 80% and the SEOCT weight of 20%, and that final grade will be recorded on the high school transcript. The SEOCT score does not impact the course grade recorded on the college transcript since that grade reflects the completion of post-secondary coursework. High school equivalency courses in which SEOCTs are administered are as follows: Biology I, Physical Science, Economics, US History, Mathematics I & II, Ninth Grade Literature/Composition, and American Literature/Composition
The school Testing Coordinator: ______
6. Listed below are assessments needed for completion of graduation requirements:
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7. Regents' Exam Requirement
Students who are participating in dual enrollment will be requiredto meet the post-secondary institution’s requirements concerning the Regents Exam. It is the student’s responsibility to investigate the post-secondary institution’s policies concerning the Regent’s Exam.
______EXPENSES
SO S P/G
1. Individual. The student or the student’s parent/guardian is responsible for all costs related to participation in dual or joint enrollment courses that are not approved for funding through the Georgia Lottery for Education or FTE.
2. Accel Program Funding.
a. The Accel Program pays for state-approved core academic courses in English/Language Arts, mathematics, science, social studies and foreign language.
To qualify for payment, all college courses taken through Accel must have a match from the list of high school courses included in the Accel course directory http://www.gsfc.org .
b. Students that meet requirements to be eligible for Accel receive an award that covers tuition, approved fees, and a book allowance. If an eligible student is enrolled less than half-time (one to five hours), then the award amount is reduced accordingly.
c. Accel hours will not count against the HOPE cap hours..
d. Transportation and all other expenses, including tuition for non-approved courses if taken, are the responsibility of the student and parent.
e. Students are ineligible for payment through Accel, Hope Grant and FTE funding for coursework from which he or she totally withdrew if, as a result, such coursework does not appear on the student’s academic transcript as a “Withdrawal” or any other similar identification.
______COURSE SELECTION AND CREDIT
SO S P/G
1. For students who participate in approved dual enrollment programs, the grades and amount of credit for each approved course shall be placed on high school transcripts and shall be used in computing grade point averages. These course grades are not calculated as a part of the student’s college HOPE GPA; however, the course grades are calculated as a part of the student’s high school transcript record and therefore WILL affect the student’s initial HOPE eligibility.
2. Courses selected for dual enrollment must count toward high school graduation requirements. For the list of approved high school courses aligned with college-level equivalents, refer to the High School Courses and College Equivalents for the ACCEL Program document located on the GAcollege411 website. http://www.GAcollege411.org
3. Credit Conversions:
a. Postsecondary semester hour credit shall be converted to high school unit credit as follows: 1 to 2 semester hours = .5 unit; 3 to 5 semester hours = 1 unit
4. For purposes of secondary student records and calculating cumulative grade
point averages, grades earned at post-secondary institutions will be awarded as follows:
a. If the post-secondary institution provides a numerical grade, that grade will be recorded on the high school transcript
OR
b. If the post-secondary institution provides only letter grades, the letter grades will be correlated to numerical grades and recorded on the high school transcript and be calculated in the GPA as follows:
Letter Grade Numerical Grade
A 99
B 89
C 79
D 70
F 69
In order to fulfill statutory requirements per O.C.G.A 20-2-157, for purposes of HOPE reporting, the numeric grades recorded in the student’s high school transcript based on the equivalency chart listed above in item #2 will be identified and reported to Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC).
5. Remedial and developmental courses are not available for dual enrollment.
6. Dual enrollment courses may be taken before, during or after the regular school day. Eligible virtual courses offered through the college may be taken. All technology issues for virtual and on-line courses are the responsibility of the student and the post-secondary institution.
7. Dual enrollment college credit will usually transfer to other Georgia public colleges or universities offering that course with the same prefix and number. However, if students do not attend the same college or university after high school graduation, the dual enrollment credit they have earned may not apply for transfer to general education, prerequisites and degree programs. Students are advised to consider the requirements of their post-high school institution when planning dual enrollment coursework.
8. Students should be aware that few course credits earned at technical colleges transfer successfully for credit at two and four-year post-secondary institutions. It is the responsibility of the students to check on the transferability of potential course credits.
9. Part-time Dual Enrollment at a postsecondary institution - Part-time means enrollment for the equivalent of 1 through 11 semester hours per semester of postsecondary credit at an eligible postsecondary institution.
10. University System of Georgia (USG) institutions do not allow students to transfer to another USG institution during an academic term.
______COURSE INCOMPLETION OR FAILURE
SO S P/G
1. A student's graduation may be delayed if:
a. a course needed for graduation is failed or if the student withdraws from a course needed for graduation;
b. a course is audited rather than taken for credit.
2. If a student withdraws from a class or fails a class needed for graduation, he / she
a. may not be able to enroll in a high school or college course that will allow him / her to graduate on schedule. High school / college courses are offered on a rotational basis; therefore, not every course may be offered every semester.
b. may be considered for enrollment in a high school course pending a review of the factors that led to the request to re-enroll and the documentation presented in support of that request. If the request is granted, the student will re-enter the high school having missed the course content presented in the high school class(es) prior to his / her enrollment and is responsible for all missed content. This may hinder satisfactory progress in the high school class. The student is responsible for all missed content.
3. Students are ineligible for payment through Accel, Hope Grant and FTE funding for coursework from which he or she totally withdrew if, as a result, such coursework does not appear on the student’s academic transcript as a “Withdrawal” or any other similar identification.
______ELIGIBILITY AND COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES
SO S P/G
1. Students enrolled in postsecondary courses must continue to meet the high school eligibility requirements for participation in high school competitive activities.
2. Students may participate in all non-competitive high school activities and organizations. Conflicts with class requirements and scheduling could prevent the student from being able to participate.
3. All dual enrollment students are eligible to participate in high school activities and events. However, it is the responsibility of the student to access information regarding dates and details for activities and events.
______STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
SO S P/G
It is the student's responsibility to:
a. follow the admission procedures and academic calendar of the college / university / technical college.
b. follow the rules and regulations of the college / university / technical college and the school system.
c. communicate with the high school counselor at least once per month.
d. request college / technical college grades be sent to the high school at the end of each grading period.
e. notify the high school official of intent to participate in graduation exercises at least one month prior to Spring graduation.
f. receive advanced approval from the high school official to change college / university / technical college.
g. to arrange an appropriate high school / college/ university / technical college schedule.
h. provide accurate information. Falsifying, misrepresenting, or knowingly furnishing false information may lead to removal from the program.
i. communicate with the high school official prior to proposed changes being made to the college/university /technical college schedule.
j. to make certain that all logistical requirements for participation such as transportation and timing can be met.
k. Technology issues for all post-secondary courses are the responsibility of the student and the post-secondary institution.
l. Be aware the communication guidelines and access to instructors at the post-secondary level differ significantly from the high school level.
Part IV: TO BE SIGNED BY THE STUDENT AND HIS / HER PARENTS OR GUARDIANS
We have read and understand all conditions and procedures outline in the dual and joint enrollment application, Parts I - IV, and will be responsible for verifying through the high school that all credits will be transferred at the appropriate times.
No student will be considered to be a dual enrollment student unless the postsecondary institution and the high school have been informed of the student's intention and this form has been filed.
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Student's Signature Parent's / Guardian's Signature
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Date
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Any person who knowingly makes or furnished any false statement or misrepresentation, or who accepts such a statement as misrepresentation knowingly to be false, for the purpose of enabling an eligible institution to obtain wrongly any payment shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. O.C. G. A. 20-2-161.1 (i).
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