Condition of Higher Education Report Provides a Statewide Context for Stark's Dual Credit Growth

Last week, the nine member Ohio Board of Regents released its third annual report on the condition of higher education in Ohio.

Subtitled Meeting the State's Current and Future Needs Through a "Student Centered University System of Ohio," (2.4MB PDF) the report examines whether the University System of Ohio has "student centered strategies and policies capable of meeting the needs of a diverse and ever changing student population".

Statewide findings on dual enrollment/credit in the report underscore the importance of Stark County's growth in this area.

The report noted that while "Ohio's dual enrollment/credit options allow high school students to earn both high school and college credit and streamline their paths to degrees" that "dual enrollments in Ohio have lagged other states - about 2% of high school students participate compared with 5% nationally."

From an initial 65 in 2006, dual credit enrollment in Stark surpassed 2,300 this year. These figures do not include the 250 students enrolled in Canton's Early College High School who also take dual credit courses.

The Regents concluded that "Ohio must strengthen its dual enrollment policies, and eliminate barriers to student participation, including financial and communication." 

The effort in Stark crosses all 17 school districts. The Regents also found that economically disadvantaged students were under represented in dual credit. Over 67% of Stark's enrollments are in districts with over 30% free and reduced lunch rates.