Early College Credit Program (ECCP)

Early College Credit Program (formally known as Youth Options Program) allows high school students in grades 9-12 to take one or more courses at an institution of higher education (IHE) for high school and/or college credit. Under this section, “institution of higher education” means an institution within the University of Wisconsin System, a tribally controlled college, or a private, nonprofit institution of higher education located in the state.

Students must submit an application to the Institute of Higher Education in the previous school semester by submitting a completed application by the deadlines. Students must notify district of intent to enroll in Early College Credit Program courses by March 1st (for fall courses) and October 1st (for spring courses). High school students in the district may participate in the Early College Credit Program in accordance with state law requirements and established procedures.

The Board shall determine whether a course taken through the ECCP is comparable to a course offered in the District, whether it satisfies graduation requirements and what, if any, high school credits will be awarded to the student.

Courses taken as part of the Early College Credit Program shall be paid for as follows:

1. The District shall pay for no more than the equivalent of 18 postsecondary semester credits per student.

2. If the course is taken for high school credit and the course is not comparable to a course offered in the District, the Board shall pay as required by law.

3. If the course is taken for postsecondary credit only, the student shall pay 25% of the costs associated with the course as required by law.

4. The District will pay only for the courses that are successfully completed. If a student receives a failing grade in a course or fails to complete the course, the student’s parent/guardian or the student, if an adult, is responsible for reimbursing the District for payment of the tuition and fees paid by the District. If this reimbursement is not made, the student on whose behalf the payment was made is ineligible for any further participation in the Early College Credit Program.

The Board is not responsible for transporting students to or from postsecondary courses under this program. The high school principal and/or designee shall administer theHeadline ECCP in the District. All 9th, 10th and 11th grade students enrolled in the District shall be informed of the Early College Credit Program annually. For more see: https://dpi.wi.gov/dual-enrollment/eccp. Ref. Board Policy 2271

The high school principal and District Administrator will recommend to the Board the amount of high school credit to be given for an Early College Credit Program course prior to the student’s enrollment in the course. The high school principal and District Administrator shall use the same criteria for evaluating Early College Credit Program courses taken for high school credit as the District does in approving courses offered in the District for credit towards graduation.

1. High school credit may be awarded for courses taken through the Early College Credit Program if they meet any of the District’s graduation requirements.

2. Accelerated credit will be awarded for those courses taken that expand upon a course of study or sequence of courses offered at the high school. Regular credit will be denied for those courses that are comparable to courses offered at DDHS.

3. Accelerated credit will be awarded for those courses that expand the opportunity for a student to move to another level of academic study.

4. If an Early College Credit Program course is approved for high school credit:

   1. one half (.5) regular high school credit shall be granted for a one or two credit IHE course

   2. one (1) regular high school credit shall be granted for a three or more credit IHE course

Start College Now allows 11th & 12th grade high school students not currently enrolled in the Early College Credit Program the opportunity to take college courses at WisconsinTechnical Colleges. Students must submit an application to the technical college that notifies the district during the previous school semester by submitting a completed application by the deadlines of March 1st (for fall courses) and October 1st (for spring courses). The technical college may admit the student only if there is space available and the student meets the requirements and prerequisites of the course.

The District may deny a Start College Now application for the following reasons:

1. The course doesn’t satisfy a high school graduation requirement.

2. The District offers a comparable course.

3. The student applicant has a record of disciplinary challenges as defined in State Statute. 118.153 (1) (a).

The district must notify the student of approval and/or rejection of desired courses by May 15th for courses to be taken in fall and November 15th for courses to be taken in spring.

Courses taken as part of the Start College Now shall be paid for as follows:

1. The District shall pay for no more than the equivalent of 18 post secondary semester credits per student.

2. If the course is taken for high school credit and the course is not comparable to a course offered in the District, the Board shall pay as required by law.

3. If the student is attending an institution of higher education of a technical college and the course is taken for high school credit and is comparable to a
   course offered in the District, the student shall pay as required by law.

4. If the student attending courses at a technical college under this program is a child with a disability, the Board shall also pay the costs of any special
   services required for the student as determined jointly by the District and technical college. The District may refuse to permit a child with a disability to
   attend a technical college under this program if it determines that the cost to the District would impose an undue financial burden on the District.

5. The District will pay only for the courses that are successfully completed. If a student receives a failing grade in a course or fails to complete the course,
   the student’s parent/guardian or the student, if an adult, is responsible for reimbursing the District for payment of the tuition and fees paid by the District.
   If this reimbursement is not made, the student on whose behalf the payment was made is ineligible for any further participation in the Start College Now
   Program.

The Board is not responsible for transporting students to or from post secondary courses under this program. The high school principal and/or designee shall administer the Start College Now program in the District.