Politics & Government

Bill Offers Dual Enrollment Perks

"In the long run, this new law will give college freshman a head start and, we hope, will encourage more to stay until they attain their degree," Gov. Nathan Deal said.

With more than 60 percent of the state's job openings expected to require some form of postsecondary education by the year 2020, Gov. Nathan Deal on Friday signed a new law intended to boost Georgia's college completion rate.

House Bill 131, which gives high school students more incentives to take dual enrollment classes, goes into effect July 1. Students who take dual enrollment courses can earn college credit and high school credit simultaneously.

Under the new law, grades in these classes will give bonus points to a student’s GPA, just as advanced placement and international baccalaureate courses do currently. As further incentive, dual enrollment courses will now count toward the “rigorous coursework” that the HOPE scholarship now requires.

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“These partnerships allow high school students to earn college credits before graduating from high school, making their transition to postsecondary education smoother and their likelihood of graduating from college greater,” Deal said.

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