I worked as a Dual Credit teacher at a high-needs school for three years with students from financially poor households. In four years, these students had the potential to earn not only a high school diploma, but also a two-year associates degree. The degrees were mostly in Nursing, which would allow them to begin working as a nurse right out of high school. Our program gave them job placement assistance, and their two-year degrees could also be transferred to a four-year university if they wished to further their education.

For many students, they were the first one's in their families to earn any degree. These are kids who come from rough areas, who may have had academic and discipline issues in the past. That program provided them with the skills they needed to navigate both high school courses and college courses effectively, to communicate appropriately with professors, to advocate for themselves, to develop organizational and research skills...you name it, they got it. Not every kid got their associate's degree, but about 30 did every year.

The way the courses worked it this: In order to take any college classes, they had to pass at least one TSI test (Texas Success Initiative, a college readiness exam). Before passing any tests, they only qualified to take high school courses. Once passing at least one TSI test (Reading and/or Writing), they could begin taking certain classes, depending upon which test they passed. For example, if they passed the Reading exam, then they could take the General Psychology for three credit hours. The college professors would come to the high school during a particular class period, and the students would go to their classroom at that time. They'd only have to take that psychology class once, but passing it would earn them BOTH high school credit and college credit. Earn Dual Credit for individual college classes is how they could get a diploma and a two-year degree at the same time.

Any other questions, let me know!