Advancing Dual Credit
By supporting advancement of dual credit courses, The Bridge has seen the number of dual credit students double and triple in districts since 2009. The success rate and economic impacts of dual credit students are equally impressive.
According to a 2010 report prepared by the University of New Mexico Center for Education Policy Research:
- More than 91% of seniors who took dual credit courses graduated high school
- 67% of dual credit students went on to post-secondary education
- 65% of dual credit students don’t need to take remedial courses in college, saving taxpayers from paying for the same classes twice.
The corresponding economic impacts of this educational success are profound. Just by examing the number of dual credit courses taken by seniors in Las Cruces Public Schools, the increase in graduation rates will yield a $55 million increase in the national economy over the course of these students lifetimes.
Reducing the need for remediation has equally impressive impacts on the national economy. According to the Alliance for Excellent Education, remediation costs the nation $3.7 billion per year -- $1.4 billion for students who have recently completed high school. In New Mexico, the state would gain $32 million in annual savings and earning benefits if we reduced the need for remediation.
And, unlike dual credit courses, students who take remedial courses are far more likely to experience the future failure to complete their college education. The same study showed that students who enroll in a remedial reading course as 41% more likely to drop out of college, and only 17% will receive a BA or BS within eight years.
This clear connection between predicting future success vs. likely failure to complete is why The Bridge stands so strongly in support of dual credit courses as a strategy to increase graduation rates and persistence into college.
Download The Bridge's current dual credit position paper by clicking here.
