Fifth-year High School & ASCENT Program Students

Current law allows a school district to include in its pupil enrollment students who were enrolled in a school that was designated as an early college before June 6, 2018, and who, after completing 4 years of high school, enroll for the 2018-19 or 2019-20 budget year in postsecondary courses. The bill extends this authority for one year to include students who enroll in postsecondary courses for the 2020-21 budget year.

Under current law, the department of education (department) designates as ASCENT program participants qualified students who meet specified criteria. Beginning in the 2021-22 budget year, the bill directs the department to first designate from among the qualified students who meet the existing criteria each qualified student who meets additional criteria that indicate the student is likely to complete a high-demand postsecondary certificate or degree during the ASCENT program year. The concurrent enrollment advisory board must consult with several departments, the governing boards of state higher education institutions, and local education providers to develop guidelines for implementing the prioritization requirement.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)