FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • What is Dual Enrollment?

    Within Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS), the Early College Access Program, or Dual Enrollment, is the term used to describe enrolling in a college course and earning college credits while still enrolled in AACPS. 

     

    Do all students who complete a college course get high school credit?

    No, they do not. Dual Credit courses, as offered by AACPS and AACC provide students the opportunity to earn credit for college courses while still in high school. These courses are approved for enrollment and successfully completed by students, allowing them to receive credit on both their high school and college transcripts. Students who meet the requirements for enrollment and successfully complete college courses approved for high school credit will receive credit for the courses on their high school and college transcripts. These courses at AACC are referenced as Dual Credit courses.

     

    Dual Credit Grading Policy for Fall 2024-2025 and afterwards

    Early College Access Program provides students with the ability to register for college courses with Anne Arundel Community College. Designated courses may fulfill both college and high school credit requirements. Before registering for dual credit courses, students must obtain prior written consent from the school principal or designee.

    Grading Criteria:

    • Students who receive an AACC (Anne Arundel Community College) course grade of 'A', 'B', 'C' and 'D' will be awarded the corresponding letter grade on the high school transcript determined by the community college.
    • Students must maintain a good academic standing with AACC with a letter grade of a C or better to be successful in a college course.
    • An AACC course grade of 'F', 'FX' or 'I' will be converted to an AACPS (Anne Arundel County Public Schools) grade of 'E' on the high school transcript.
    • High school transcripts will reflect high school credit for passing grades and no credit for 'F', 'FX', or 'I' grades. These courses will be factored into the student's GPA. Hence, students who fail to complete the AACC courses successfully may not have earned credit towards graduation requirements.
    • Grades earned in college courses for dual credit will be calculated into the high school transcript as a standard grade.
    • Unsuccessful College Course: If a student is unsuccessful in a college course, they should refer to the FAQ page for guidance on next steps.

     

    Who can participate in Dual Enrollment?

    Students who:

    • Receive parent/guardian and principal approval through the ECAP process and complete all necessary paperwork.

    • Are 16 years of age or older, or meet AACPS' Gifted and Talented eligibility criteria and AACC's under-16 admissions criteria.

    • Are College and Career Ready (CCR), in the 11th or 12th grade (two courses per term) OR possess a minimum cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.0 (one course per term) 

    • Meets AACC course prerequisites and/or minimum placement scores as assessed via ACCUPLACER, ACT, SAT, and/or other approved college readiness measures if appropriate and/or required.

    Students should speak to their high school counselor regarding the GPA details and access options related to select high school courses.

     

    Can students 16 years of age or younger participate in the ECAP Program?

    Students who are at least 13 years old, either entering or are currently enrolled in 8th through 10th grade, and have been formally identified as Gifted and Talented (G/T) by AACPS may be approved to participate in the dual enrollment program if they have a minimum cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.0 or better.

    Students under the age of 16 must obtain the approval of the Director of Workforce Development. Gifted and Talented students are limited to taking one college course per term (Fall/Winter or Spring/Summer).

    If you are uncertain as to whether or not your child meets G/T identification, refer to the Gifted and Talented website.

    High School Counselors can also help to determine a student's G/T designation.

     

    What is the process for taking advantage of a Dual Enrollment option?

    Contact the high school school counselor to initiate the process. High school counselor information can be found on each school's website. Specific deadlines for enrollment are found on the AACC Academic Calendar page. Students applying for this opportunity at AACPS, should begin by accessing the Anne Arundel County College Office of Academic Initiatives’ Early College Access Program (ECAP) webpage for more specific information, procedures, and forms to begin the process. 

     

    Program Guidelines

    Students must be in 11th and 12th grade and have met the CCR standard. Students can take up to two college courses per semester only.

    If an 11th and 12th grader with an unweighted cumulative GPA of a 3.0 and does not qualify with a CCR designation, then they are able to sign up for one college course per semester only.

     

    Signature Program Students

    Signature programs are a pipeline to College and Career Readiness designed to eliminate schoolwide opportunity gaps. Students, regardless of their current or prior enrollment in Signature Explorations 1 and/or 2, may take AACC courses as part of a high school's Signature-aligned Pathway at no cost provided that:

    • they meet the individual AACC course prerequisites
    • they have a 2.0 cumulative unweighted GPA or better
    • they are at least 16 years old

    The specific Signature-related AACC courses are the only courses offered to students through this differentiated eligibility criteria.

    What courses are offered through the Dual Enrollment Program?

    A list of approved Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) courses are found on the front page of the ECAP website. To review the transferability of college courses between Maryland colleges and universities, visit the Articulation System for Maryland Colleges and Universities website. For specific information related to college course options at your local high school, or approved lists, go to the ECAP website.

     

    What high school graduation credit can be earned through the Dual Enrollment Program?

    While not every college course is approved for high school credit, students may earn high school credit for many courses offered at AACC. A list of approved courses can be found here.

     

    What courses are offered at my home high school?

    College courses offered on the high school site are determined through the Division of Academics. They are associated with specific programs; CTE, Signature, etc. The courses offered may vary by semester per high school. School counselors can discuss specific AACPS courses with students.

     

    What is the difference between an Advanced Placement (AP) course and a college course?

    The Maryland State Department of Education identifies College Board AP courses as college-like courses taught by high school teachers. Dual Enrollment courses are college courses taught by college professors. Both college and AP courses offer rigorous options for students.  Students will earn college credit with the successful completion of college courses. Students may earn college credit with the completion of the AP course and identified score on the AP exam. It is recommended that students research which colleges/universities accept AP and/or Dual Enrollment course credit.  

     

    Do colleges and universities accept credits earned through dual enrollment?

    Credits earned through dual enrollment may transfer to many Maryland public colleges and universities.  Prospective students are encouraged to contact their university of interest and inquire directly about the acceptance of transfer credits.  Similar to Advanced Placement courses, university policies vary regarding acceptance of transfer credits.

     

    What if my child wants to drop or withdraw from an AACC course?

    All high school students who do not intend to complete a college course in which they are enrolled - for any reason - must follow the college guidelines to drop or withdraw from an AACC course.  There are different timelines for credit and non-credit courses. Click on the link to review detailed information associated with dropping or withdrawing from a course to ensure students do not miss a deadline that could have a negative impact on a potential refund or a student's transcript.

     

    What happens if a student stops attending a college course and does not officially withdraw from a course?

    The student will fail the course and the course failure will be noted on the college transcript.  This may impact a student's ability to secure financial aid in the future.  Because the college, in accordance with FERPA, does not notify the parents/caregivers of course progress it is important to monitor the student's academic progress thorughout the term. 

    Students who were not successful (earned an A, B, or C) in a college course taken in a previous term must obtain approval from the Director of Workforce Development prior to a subsequent enrollment.

     

    What happens if a student fails or is unsuccessful in a college course?

    Students who do not achieve a grade of C or higher may not be approved for funding to enroll in another AACC course unless they can demonstrate extenuating circumstances. In such cases, the student and their family must submit a formal request to the Director of Workforce Development.

     

    Is transportation provided for students going to the college campus to take a course?

    Students are responsible for providing their own transportation. However, Signature Program courses on college campuses senior year have transportation options or students can self-transport.

     

    Can a parent/guardian monitor their student's progress in the college course?

    FERPA (Family Educational Rights Privacy Act) applies to all students enrolled in college courses, regardless of the age of the student. Therefore, communication is only between the student and the college. Students are responsible for monitoring their educational progress through their MyAACC student account and communication with their professors through their official AACC e-mail. Families should create systems within their households to discuss progress and identify if resources for support are needed.

     

    Will parents/guardians be informed of a student's enrollment and Performance in a college course?

    Parent/guardian(s), counselors, and principals must approve the student's college course(s) through the process, however, per FERPA, all communication from the college will be addressed to the student. It is the responsibility of students to share all information regarding performance and college course progress with their parents/guardians. Parents/guardians are encouraged to be actively involved in the application and registration process with their child and create systems within their households to discuss progress and identify if resources for support are needed.

     

    What resources can a student access at the college if they are dually enrolled?

    A high school student can access all resources for support available to a college student (Library, free tutoring at the Tutoring Center, Writing Center, online databases, Virtual Writing Center, etc). 

     

    Does AACPS determine the college curriculum?

    AACPS does not determine the college curriculum but does evaluate it for high school credit.  AACC is solely responsible for determining the college curriculum and instructional materials of each course. 

     

    Does AACPS supervise, hire, or evaluate the college professors?

    No.  AACC is responsible for selecting, hiring and paying the college professors. 

     

    Who do I contact and/or where do I go for more information about Dual Enrollment?

    You may contact your child's high school counselor, and visit AACPS or AACC College Dual Enrollment webpages for more details about Dual Enrollment procedures and deadlines.