Dual Enrollment lets you earn college credit while still in high school or while completing your GED.

For High School Students

Dual enrollment provides students the unique opportunity to take community college classes while still in high school.

Dual enrollment enables high school students to take college courses, taught by college professors, at their high school campus. These courses can also count toward your high school diploma, allowing students to get a head start on their higher education goals.

For assistance, contact DualEnrollment@CCCCO.edu,

For Adult Learners

Dual enrollment enables you take college courses at community colleges while enrolled in and adult education program. This means you can earn both high school and college credits at the same time. It's a great way to test the waters of a college education, explore different subjects, and graduate from your adult education program with college credits. Benefits for adult learners include:

  • Experiencing college-level coursework
  • Gaining college credits while obtaining your high school diploma or GED
  • Improving your job prospects with higher qualifications
  • Gaining confidence and build skills
  • Building your path forward toward a degree or career you desire
How to Enroll
Frequently Asked Questions

Equitable Dual Enrollment Policy to Practice Guide

"Research shows that when dual enrollment is designed for quality and equity, students who are most underrepresented in postsecondary degree attainment—young men of color, students from low-income families, and students who are the first in their families to attend college—often benefit the most."

Read the Guide

Key Terms Used in Dual Enrollment Programs

Program Types and Structures

Term Definition
Dual Enrollment (DuE)

An overarching term describing program options and students who are simultaneously enrolled in a California community college and another educational institution, such as:

  • High school students
  • Adult education students pursuing high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate

While some organizations or educational systems may use the term "concurrent enrollment," it is important to note that this terminology is not defined in California Education Code and is not officially used by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office.

Similarly, the phrase "dual enrollment course or CCAP course” is not defined in California Education Code and is not officially used by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Students are not enrolled in separate category of courses labeled as “dual enrollment.” Instead, they are enrolled in college-level courses as special admit students. The use of the term 'dual enrollment course' may unintentionally suggest that these courses are less rigorous, which is inaccurate. All courses offered to special admit students are standard college courses that maintain the same academic rigor and expectations as those offered to non-special admit students.
 Special Admit

Refers to students admitted to a community college as either special part-time or special full-time students under California Education Code §76001. A community college district may admit eligible students as special part-time or full-time students under §§48800, 48800.5, 52620.

Special admit students may also participate in CCAP dual enrollment, which is authorized under California Education Code §76004
College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP)

Authorized under California Education Code §76004, CCAP agreements are partnerships between community college districts and:

  • School districts
  • County offices of education
  • Charter schools

These agreements aim to offer or expand dual enrollment opportunities for:

  • Students who may not be already college bound, or
  • Who are underrepresented in higher education.

Community college courses are typically offered on high school campuses during the regular school day.
Non-College and Career Access Pathways (non-CCAP)

Authorized under California Education Code §48800, non-CCAP allows students to enroll in community college courses individually and/or through optional formal partnerships agreements between community colleges and local high school districts.

Students typically take community college courses on a community college campus outside of their regular school hours.

Authorized under California Education Code §52620, the governing board of a school district overseeing an adult education program or the governing board of a community college district overseeing a noncredit program may authorize a student pursuing their high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate to attend a community college as a special part-time student. 
Early College High School (ECHS) Authorized under California Education Code §11302, are partnerships between charter or non-charter public secondary schools and a local community college, the California State University, or the University of California and allows students to earn a high school diploma and up to two years of college credit within four years.
Middle College High School (MCHS) Authorized under California Education Code §11300, a MCHS serves at-promise high school students who are performing below their academic potential and places them in an alternative high school located on a community college campus to improve graduation outcomes.
Structured Dual Enrollment Programs

Programs with defined pathways and formal agreements. Examples include:

  • CCAP
  • Middle College High School
  • Early College High School
Unstructured Dual Enrollment Programs

Dual enrollment opportunities that involve individual course enrollments or optional formal partnership agreements between community colleges and local high school districts.

  • These programs typically do not follow a defined pathway.
  • Students usually take community college courses on a college campus outside of the regular high school day.

Title 5 Regulatory References

Term Definition
Title 5, § 56700 – Program Consent and Documentation

This section of the California Code of Regulations outlines the conditions for student participation in dual enrollment programs non-CCAP and CCAP.

Key Provisions:

  • Parental/Guardian Consent: When parental or guardian consent is required to admit a student to a course(es), once given, is effective until it is revoked.
  • Documentation: Community College Districts are prohibited from requiring student transcripts or social security numbers as a condition of dual enrollment.

Memo: Title 5, California Code of Regulations - Dual Enrollment Programs: Participation Consent and Documentation (PDF)
Title 5, §58106 – Limitations on Enrollment

This section of the California Code of Regulations outlines the conditions under which enrollment in community college courses must generally be open to all admitted students. However, enrollment may be limited for reasons such as perquisites, health and safety, facility constraints, or legal requirements.

Legal Opinion 16-02: Dual Enrollment and Assembly Bill 288 (CCAP) clarifies that:

Enrollment in a course may only be limited in accordance with Title 5 section 58106 [“Limitations on Enrollment” provisions]. (Note: limiting enrollment exclusively to a “cohort” of high school students is not permitted as it would conflict with the statutory requirement that special admit FTES may only be claimed for purposes of state apportionment when the course in question is open to the general public).

Legal Opinion: 2010-07 Opinion Limitations on Enrollment for Cohorts of Students further explains cohort-based enrollment.

Data Reporting Systems

Term Definition
Chancellor’s Office Management Information System (COMIS) COMIS – Also referred to as MIS, is the data collection system mandated by legislation for California Community Colleges. It supports accountability, drives funding and reporting through tools like the Student Success Metrics Dashboard and the annual State of the System report and various reporting to the Legislature and Governor.
COMIS Student Basic Data Element SB11 – Student Education Status

Student Basic Data Element SB11 - Student Education Status: Identifies student’s highest level of education: whether high school or college.

Not A High School Graduate

  • 10000 – Special Admit student currently enrolled in K-12
  • 21000 – Adult Education Special Admit student
COMIS Student Basic Data Element SB15 – Student Enrollment Status

Student Basic Data Element SB15 – Student Enrollment Status: Indicates the student’s current standing with respect to attendance at a college.

Y = A Special Admit Student. 

This element is used in conjunction with SB11 to help identify K12 Special Admit Students.
COMIS Special Populations Data Element SG13 SG13 Student-CCAP-Status is a required reporting element and indicates whether the student is a participant in a CCAP agreement during the reporting term.
COMIS Special Populations Data Element SG07 SG07 Student-MCHS-ECHS-Status is a required reporting element and indicates whether the student met the eligibility criteria and is enrolled in either a MCHS or ECHS program.
Data Mart Data Mart provides public access to information about students, courses, student services, outcomes and faculty/ staff. Its user-friendly interface supports data-driven decision making for administrators, educators, parents, students, state leaders, and professional organizations.
 Data Vista

Data Vista is a metrics platform offering student success across California Community Colleges and Adult Education. It supports evidence-based decision-making and promotes understanding of student outcomes.

Given the vast majority of special admit students are in high school at the time of their dual enrollment, the Chancellor’s Office has begun tracking K12 Special Admits according to their presumed High School Graduation year. These students are grouped into cohorts based on the presumed end date (High School Graduation) of a group of students. A full description of this cohort construction is available on Data Vista.
Vision Aligned Reporting (VAR) Vision-Aligned Reporting is a reporting process for California Community Colleges aimed at improving data collection and advancing equitable student outcomes. Vision Aligned Reporting is required for CCAP programs and MCHS.

Faculty and Course Delivery Method

Term Definition
Minimum Qualifications

When a college and high school establish a dual enrollment partnership where college courses are offered on the high school campus, there are generally two ways to staff the course:

  1. A college-employed instructor teaches the course at the high school. This instructor is a regular faculty member of the community and is assigned to teach the college course on the high school campus.
  2. A high school teacher who meets the California Community Colleges’ minimum qualifications and who is hired as an adjunct college instructor, teaches the course at the high school, and completes a separate agreement allowing the teacher to serve as a college instructor pursuant to title 5 section § 58058. (See title 5 section § 58050 for state apportionment eligibility)

Generally, minimum qualifications at a community college are a master’s degree in the subject area being taught, or for career technical education (CTE), a combination of an associate or bachelor’s degree and years of experience in the CTE discipline.
Synchronous and Asynchronous Course Delivery under a CCAP agreement 

Under California Education Code §76004(o), a community college course offered through a CCAP partnership agreement may be delivered either in person or using an online platform and may be closed to high school students only if it meets all four of the following conditions:

  1. It is offered at a high school campus.
  2. It is delivered either in person or via an online platform.
  3. It occurs during the regular school day.
  4. It is offered pursuant to a CCAP partnership agreement.

Because asynchronous online courses can be accessed at any time and from any location, they do not meet the requirement of being offered during the regular school day and offered on the high school campus. As a result, asynchronous courses cannot be closed. They may still be offered under a CCAP agreement but must remain open to the public.