Louisiana 2016 2016 Regular Session

Louisiana House Bill HCR141 Enrolled / Bill

                    ENROLLED
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 141
BY REPRESENTATIVE BROADWATER
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To urge and request the commissioner of higher education and the state superintendent of
education to jointly report to the legislature, prior to February 1, 2017, on increasing
availability and use of dual enrollment programs.
WHEREAS, dual enrollment programs allow students to receive high school and
postsecondary education credit for a single course; and
WHEREAS, such courses have numerous benefits for students including helping
them stay engaged in school, thereby increasing their chances of graduating from high
school, and making the transition to higher education easier, which in turn enhances their
chances of completing a college degree or other credential; and
WHEREAS, dual enrollment may also reduce the total cost of a postsecondary
program of study, and finishing earlier can save money for both the student and the state;
and
WHEREAS, Louisiana law provides for dual enrollment programs, but many believe
that these programs have not been implemented to the maximum extent possible; and
WHEREAS, successful implementation of dual enrollment programs requires
substantial cooperation and coordination among the secondary and postsecondary
communities, which may be a factor that has limited implementation; and
WHEREAS, the legislature requires further information from program administrators
on the successes of dual enrollment programs and on what changes need to be made for
greater success and believes that a single report representing both the secondary and
postsecondary perspectives on the opportunities and challenges regarding dual enrollment
would be valuable.
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the commissioner of higher education and the state superintendent of
education to jointly report to the legislature, prior to February 1, 2017, containing
recommendations on increasing availability and use of dual enrollment programs.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in preparing the report required by this
Resolution, the commissioner and the superintendent shall jointly hold at least two public
hearings to solicit input from citizens and from organizations with an interest in or
information on the topic.
BE IF FURTHER RESOLVED, that the report shall include the following:
(1)  An analysis of past and current participation in dual enrollment programs, which
shall include numbers of participants and trends in those numbers and information on
geographic distribution of participants, specific programs and courses of study pursued,
outcomes in particular courses, and ultimate postsecondary success of participants.
(2)  Identification of factors that hinder participation in dual enrollment programs
including factors that prevent students from participating in the programs that do exist and
factors that limit the availability of the programs.
(3)  Specific suggestions for how participation in productive dual enrollment
opportunities can be increased and an action plan for implementing these suggestions.
(4)  Identification of any legislative action required for increasing dual enrollment
opportunities and participation.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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