The University of Indianapolis seal inside Esch Hall in Indianapolis. UIndy Photo
Indiana Commission for Higher Education announced the extension of its partnership with INvestEd and the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) at the University of Indianapolis through 2025 to offer Teach Dual Credit Indiana.
Teach Dual Credit Indiana provides free graduate courses for Indiana high school educators to become fully credentialed to teach dual credit classes in communications/speech, economics, English, history, political science/government and world languages.
INvestEd, a statewide nonprofit, provided a $3 million grant for Hoosier teachers to receive the necessary credit hours to become fully credentialed through Teach Dual Credit Indiana. This is the second round of funding for Teach Dual Credit Indiana. The program is administered by CELL and covers the full cost of tuition, books and fees at partner postsecondary institutions in eligible content areas, according to IDOE.
“INvestEd’s postsecondary education planning presentations stress the value of dual credit coursework in terms of future academic success and tuition savings, and have done so for years,” President and CEO of INvestEd Joe Wood said in a statement on the extension. “These free, rigorous courses provide a head start towards graduating and is why INvestEd is so eager to continue to support this credentialing program for Indiana’s essential dual credit educators.”
About 64% of the high school graduating class of 2021 earned some form of early college credit. Additionally, the commission’s latest data show that 66% of students who earned dual credit enrolled in college in 2021 compared to 33% of their peers who did not earn dual credit. The college-going rate for students who earned dual credit is 13% greater than the statewide average of 53%, IDOE data shows.
“Dual credit courses are incredibly valuable for students to earn college credit while in high school – preparing them for college and saving them time and money toward completing their program of choice,” Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Chris Lowery said in a statement on the extension. “Dual credit is critical to the foundation of the Indiana College Core and is a proven tool to improve college-going rates. Through grant funding from INvestEd, the Commission is honored to continue its support for CELL’s Teach Dual Credit Indiana program to remove barriers to credentialing for high school educators around the state.”
CELL is encouraging educators who are interested in taking winter/spring 2024 courses through Teach Dual Credit Indiana to register as soon as possible. Registration closes on Nov. 30.
“Launching phase two of Teach Dual Credit Indiana will ensure more Indiana teachers have access to the educational opportunities they need to meet dual credit credentialing requirements. In turn, more Hoosier students will be prepared for postsecondary education through expanded dual credit offerings in high schools,” CELL’s Executive Director Carey Dahncke said in a statement. “We look forward to our continued partnership with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and INvestEd in this important work.”
