Alabama § 16-1-42.1 - High School Credits for Approved Dual Enrollment Courses Offered by Local Community Colleges and Universities.

§ 16-1-42.1. High School Credits for Approved Dual Enrollment Courses Offered by Local Community Colleges and Universities.

(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE. A two-year community or technical college under the purview of the Alabama Community College System whose service area includes the area where the local high school or local education agency is located, as determined by the Alabama Community College System.

(2) LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCY. A county or city school system operating public K-12 schools.

(3) UNIVERSITY. A four-year public institution of higher education.

(b)(1) A local education agency, upon the request of a parent or legal guardian, shall permit an enrolled high school student to enroll in any dual enrollment course that is offered by a local community college or university and approved for dual credit by the State Department of Education.

(2) The granting of permission does not obligate a local education agency to incorporate any dual enrollment course into its standard curriculum. The local education agency shall recognize and award high school credit to a student who passes approved dual enrollment courses.

(c) To be eligible for enrollment in a dual enrollment course, a student shall meet with a counselor, career coach, or other appropriate employee designated by the local education agency. The counselor, career coach, or employee shall evaluate the dual enrollment courses selected by the student and shall determine the appropriateness of those courses based on the preferred college and career interests of the student. The student shall also consult with dual enrollment personnel employed by the applicable local community college or university regarding his or her course selections to ensure the relevancy of those courses.

(d) Both the local education agency and the local community college or university shall agree, in writing, on the course selections of a student. Upon agreement and at the request of the local education agency, the local community college or university shall register the student for the selected and approved dual enrollment courses.

(e) A local education agency is not financially responsible for any costs associated with the participation of a student in dual enrollment courses unless otherwise required by state or local law, policy, or agreement between the local education agency and the local community college or university.

(f) The State Department of Education, with input from and in collaboration with the Alabama Community College System and universities, shall prepare and distribute to local education agencies guidelines for the implementation of this section.