Understanding Equity in Access to College Credit Opportunities in High School

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 6
  In Roundtable Session: Who Benefits From Dual Credit and Dual Enrollment? New Research From Across the Nation

Abstract

To achieve state goals in high school graduation and college and career success, Oregon has expanded courses that allow high school students to earn college credit (called “accelerated learning” in the state) and encouraged a college-going culture, with a particular focus on equitable access to college-level courses in high school. We focus on better understanding differences in access to accelerated learning courses by race/ethnicity, income, English learner status, and other student characteristics. Calculating straightforward participation rates by student subgroup masks differences for small student groups, however. To remedy this, we use the composition index to better understand underrepresentation in college credit opportunities in high school and describe how high schools and colleges across Oregon are addressing inequitable access.

Authors

• Michelle Hodara, Education Northwest

• Ashley Pierson, Education Northwest