South Carolina Dual Enrollment Opportunity Act

2025-2026 Bill 4984: South Carolina Dual Enrollment Opportunity Act - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 4984
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Rep. Erickson
Document Path: LC-0591WAB26.docx
Introduced in the House on January 20, 2026
Currently residing in the House Committee on
Education and Public Works
Summary: South Carolina Dual Enrollment Opportunity Act
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

1/20/2026

House

Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 6
)

1/20/2026

House

Referred to Committee on
Education and Public Works
(
House Journal-page 6
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
01/20/2026

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE
"SOUTH CAROLINA DUAL ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITY ACT" BY ADDING CHAPTER 60 TO TITLE
59 SO AS TO PROVIDE A STATEWIDE POLICY FOR DUAL ENROLLMENT, TO DEFINE NECESSARY
TERMS, AND TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POLICY, AMONG OTHER THINGS; AND TO
REPEAL SECTION
59-59-210
RELATING TO ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS BETWEEN SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

S
ECTION 1.
This act may be cited as the "South Carolina Dual Enrollment Opportunity
Act."

S
ECTION 2.
T
itle 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

C
HAPTER 60

S
outh Carolina Dual Enrollment Opportunity Act

S
ection
59-60-110
.
F
or the purposes of this chapter:

(
1)
"Dual enrollment" means the participation of eligible high school students,
including those attending public, charter, private, and home schools, in
college-level courses that simultaneously fulfill requirements for high school
graduation and contribute toward a postsecondary credential such as a degree,
certificate, or diploma. A dual enrollment program should ease students'
transition from high school to college by exposing them to college-level
expectations, rigor, and support systems.

(
2)
"Industry-recognized credentials" means certifications, licenses, or
certificates that:

(
a)
verify an individual's knowledge and skills in a specific career field that is
widely valued by employers, recognized in the labor market, and portable across
state borders; and

(
b)
serve as a valid assessment of such student knowledge and skills. The
Coordinating Council on Workforce Development shall compile and maintain a list
of such credentials.

(
3)
"Early college" means a high school that partners with a college to provide
students with the opportunity to earn both a high school diploma and college
credit or an associate degree simultaneously.

(
4)
"Middle college" means a high school program that takes place on a technical or
community college campus where students may simultaneously earn high school and
college credit.

(
5)
"Mixed enrollment" occurs where students are concurrently enrolled in a
college-level course with high school students who are not enrolled as dual
enrollment students.

(
6)
"Baccalaureate track or pathway" means dual enrollment courses that lead to the
completion of a bachelor's degree at a South Carolina college or university.

(
7)
"Career track or pathway" means dual enrollment courses that lead to the
completion of a technical certificate, diploma, or Associates in Applied Science
degree.

(
8)
"Developmental course" means a sub-collegiate level preparatory course in
English, mathematics, reading, science, basic skills, and second language
learning.

S
ection
59-60-120
. Beginning with the 2029-2030 school year, all courses eligible for
dual enrollment status must be approved by the Education Oversight Committee.
The committee shall consult with the State Department of Education, the
Commission on Higher Education, and the State Board for Technical and
Comprehensive Education in making its determination on course eligibility.
Approved courses may be used to lead to a diploma, certificate, or
industry-recognized credential.

S
ection
59-60-130
.
B
eginning with the 2027-2028 school year,
the State Board of Education, State Board for Technical and Comprehensive
Education, and Commission on Higher Education shall adopt a statewide policy
governing dual enrollment. The policy shall include, at a minimum, the
following:

(
1)
courses are limited to students in the eleventh and twelfth grade unless the
student is in at least the ninth grade and is enrolled in an early college or
middle college. Additional exceptions may be made for high school students
enrolled prior to the eleventh grade if the parent or guardian, student, high
school principal, and designated college representative approve students on a
case-by-case basis, and a signed acknowledgement is executed by all parties;

(
2)
a requirement that home school students must comply with the course
registration requirements of the higher education institution;

(
3)
an allowance for high school students who have completed all requirements for
high school graduation, but have not received a diploma;

(
4)
a requirement that baccalaureate track students must have an unweighted grade
point average of 3.0 or higher and meet all program and course prerequisites
for enrollment as defined by the higher education institution offering the
coursework;

(
5)
a requirement that career and technical education track students must have an
unweighted grade point average of 2.5 or higher and meet all program and course
prerequisites for enrollment as defined by the higher education institution
offering the coursework;

(
6)
a requirement that students maintain a 2.0 college grade point average to
maintain eligibility to enroll in dual enrollment program coursework;

(
7)
a prohibition on developmental courses being offered for dual enrollment credit;

(
8)
a prohibition on students enrolling in dual enrollment classes that do not
count toward high school graduation unless the student has already completed
all graduation requirements; however, students may take prerequisite courses
that lead to dual enrollment program coursework provided those courses are not
developmental courses;

(
9)
a prohibition on noncredit coursework;

(
10)
a prohibition on mixed enrollment and instruction;

(
11)
a prohibition on courses primarily focused on physical activity, recreation, or
personal enrichment;

(
12)
a requirement that all dual enrollment faculty meet college and accreditor
standards for teaching collegiate courses and that instructors employed by the
high school and assigned to teach a dual enrollment course meet college faculty
credentialing requirements, agree to abide by the higher education institution's
instructor guidelines, attend an orientation offered by the higher education
institution, and comply with all college instructional requirements;

(
13)
a requirement that the instructor of record must be the individual whose
primary responsibility is delivering and grading coursework. No college or
university-supported instruction is permitted where a college or university
uses an instructor who does not meet college or university credentialing
criteria while listing a credentialed college or university instructor as the
instructor of record;

(
14)
a requirement that courses must cover the same student learning outcomes as a
traditional college course;

(
15)
a requirement that the institution of higher education is responsible for
providing comprehensive assessments to ensure the course meets college-level
rigor. Completed assessments must be returned to the college and kept for at
least four academic years;

(
16)
a requirement that textbooks and other materials match those used in the
equivalent college course. The institution of higher education must inform the
school district of material requirements at least six months prior to the
beginning of the course. When a dual enrollment course is taught on a high
school campus, the classroom is a college classroom and subject to higher
education rules, regulations, and accreditation standards and exempt from K-12
standards with respect to curriculum;

(
17)
a requirement that the institution of higher education must regularly assess
the effectiveness of its library, learning resources, and student support
services for dual enrollment programs as required by the college's accreditor;

(
18)
a requirement that assignments, tests, and grading standards are the same as
those for students enrolled in the institution of higher education. Students
must follow the institution's attendance policy and also meet the attendance
requirements set forth in regulations of the South Carolina State Board of
Education. Faculty must follow the college's grading policies, withdrawal
policies, and deadlines and comply with the institution's attendance policy.
Higher education institutions shall provide letter and numeric grades to
secondary schools for purposes of recording course completion and grades on the
high school transcript;

(
19)
a requirement that instructors teaching dual enrollment courses must be
informed of the institution of higher education's grading guidelines before the
course begins; and

(
20)
a requirement that grades reported for dual enrollment courses must comply with
the requirements of the uniform grading scale established pursuant to Section
59-5-68
.

S
ection
59-60-140
.
(
A) All higher education
institutions in this State shall accept dual enrollment credit for any course
included in the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education's Statewide
Articulation Agreement list of Universally Transferable Courses. Acceptance of
credit applies provided the student meets the minimum grade and other
eligibility requirements established by the receiving institution. Institutions
may apply the credit toward degree requirements or electives following their
approved curriculum, but credit acceptance cannot be denied for any course on
the Statewide Articulation Agreement list of Universally Transferable Courses
list. The list shall be published on the South Carolina Commission on Higher
Education's website and all public college and university websites.

(
B)
To support South Carolina's goal of increasing postsecondary credential
attainment, all higher education institutions participating in dual enrollment
programs must enroll in the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) Reverse
Transfer initiative. Institutions must agree to facilitate reverse transfer of
earned credits from partnering four-year institutions back to two-year colleges
when applicable, ensuring students receive associate degrees or other
credentials for which they have completed requirements. Specifically,
participating institutions must:

(
1)
sign and maintain a valid Reverse Transfer Statement of Work with NSC;

(
2)
modify their admissions policy to auto-enroll dually enrolled students in the
Reverse Transfer initiative with an opt-out option; and,

(
3)
upload their data at the end of the fall, spring, and summer term to the NSC
Reverse Transfer portal.

(
C)
All courses in a technical certificate, degree, or diploma pathway must be
universally transferable to all South Carolina technical colleges, provided the
receiving institution offers an equivalent academic program.

S
ection
59-60-150
.
S
chool districts, including charter
school authorizers, and higher education institutions shall enter into
agreements prior to providing dual enrollment courses. All agreements must be
subject to audit as defined in the statewide policy regarding dual enrollment
referenced in Section
59-60-200
. The agreements must include, but are not
limited to:

(
1)
program information that clearly describes how students and parents or
guardians are informed about dual enrollment opportunities and how students may
enter the program;

(
2)
listings of dual enrollment course offerings to include course-by-course
mapping of college courses to high school credits;

(
3)
a listing of initial student eligibility requirements to include the minimum
grade point average, placement assessment scores, or prerequisite courses and
policies for exceptions;

(
4)
an explanation of how students and parents or guardians must be informed about
college-level rigor, grading, and withdrawal procedures and implications;

(
5)
details regarding registration policies and timelines for dual enrollment
courses;

(
6)
a review of the higher education institution's student conduct policies;

(
7)
roles and responsibilities of students, parents or guardians, schools, and
institutions of higher education;

(
8)
an explanation of Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and course access;

(
9)
confirmation that dual enrollment courses meet the same competencies and rigor
as traditional college courses, regardless of the location of instruction
offered, and that instructional materials are the same as those used by the
college;

(
10)
a description of how and when institutions of higher education will transmit
grades to the school district;

(
11)
a funding provision that clearly delineates costs for tuition, fees,
instructional materials, and other expenses between the district and the
college;

(
12)
a requirement that students execute a release of academic records pursuant to
the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act so that those records may be
shared with parents or guardians and the school district. An opt-out option
must be made available; and

(
13)
appendices for course lists, credit equivalencies, program advising maps,
calendars, and cost-sharing details shall be included.

S
ection
59-60-160
. Public school districts, including charter authorizers, shall apply
the same weighting to all baccalaureate and Associate in Applied Science dual
enrollment pathway courses as Advanced Placement and International
Baccalaureate courses when calculating high school grade point averages.
Alternative grade calculation or weighting systems that discriminate against
any dual enrollment coursework are prohibited.

S
ection
59-60-170
.
A
ll dual enrollment programs shall
include the following student enrollment and student supports:

(
1)
institutions of higher education and school districts shall provide joint
orientation sessions for students and parents or guardians that address
enrollment procedures, college-level expectations, and available resources.
Students who register for virtual courses must complete the institution's
orientation for online learning prior to the start of virtual coursework;

(
2)
institutions of higher education shall ensure that students have access to and
receive college advising services;

(
3)
high school counselors must be trained in dual enrollment requirements and
pathways and shall ensure that all students receive a program map aligned with
their educational goals;

(
4)
institutions of Higher Education must advise dual enrollment students about the
potential impact of coursework on future eligibility for state scholarships and
financial aid programs, including LIFE and Palmetto Fellows, and include how
grades earned in dual enrollment courses affect scholarship qualification;

(
5)
ensure that clear and timely information on student eligibility, course
options, credit transfer, and financial responsibilities are provided through
multiple sources;

(
6)
ensure that dual enrollment students have the same access to tutoring,
libraries, technology, and disability services as traditional college students;
and

(
7)
ensure that students and parents or guardians are informed about withdrawal
deadlines, grade point average implications, and financial aid consequences of
taking dual enrollment classes.

S
ection
59-60-180
. For students with disabilities, a higher education institution
offering dual enrollment courses must include in its agreement with the school
district a description of the services and resources available to students with
disabilities who enroll in dual enrollment courses. The agreement shall outline
how students and parents or guardians are informed about these services and how
accommodations must be coordinated between the college and the school district
in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA). Institutions must ensure that students with disabilities have equal
access to academic support, assistive technology, and other resources provided
to all college students. Students who identify as having a disability must sign
a document acknowledging receipt of college accommodation. Accommodation must
be determined by the higher education institution in compliance with the
institution's ADA and student accommodations policies and procedures.

S
ection
59-60-190
.
E
ach institution of higher education
shall provide an annual report to the Office of Statewide Workforce
Development, Commission on Higher Education, State Board for Technical and
Comprehensive Education, State Board of Education, Speaker of the House of Representatives,
and the President of the Senate of the following:

(
1)
dual enrollment delivery locations;

(
2)
student information to include the total number of students. This shall be
further categorized by sex and race;

(
3)
course completion statistics by institution;

(
4)
the number of college credentials awarded by each institution;

(
5)
dual enrollment completer college enrollment statistics;

(
6)
job placement or continued enrollment for completers in career and technical
education pathways;

(
7)
percentage of dual enrollment completers retained in the first year of college;

(
8)
college graduation rate (150 percent of time to degree completion) for dual
enrollment completers;

(
9)
time to graduation for dual enrollment completers; and

(
10)
tuition dollars saved on a per pupil and total yearly basis.

S
ection
59-60-200
.
(
A) Beginning July 1,
2027, the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education shall conduct
system-wide audits of each technical college on a three-year rotating basis to
examine compliance with state dual enrollment policy. A summary report must be
provided to the Commission on Higher Education, State Board of Education,
Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate each
year.

(
B)
Beginning July 1, 2027, the Commission on Higher Education shall conduct audits
on a three-year rotating basis of public and private four-year colleges,
University of South Carolina branch campuses, and universities to examine
compliance with state dual enrollment policy. A summary report must be provided
to the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education, State Board of
Education, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of the
Senate by June thirtieth of each year.

(
C)
The president of each institution of higher education is responsible for
ensuring compliance with all dual enrollment program regulations but may
designate responsibility to a member of their executive staff. To ensure
accountability and continuous improvement, higher education institutions must
promptly address issues identified in audit findings. Responsible parties are
required to develop and implement corrective action plans within a specified
timeframe and report progress to the designated oversight authority. Reviews
must be conducted to verify resolution and assess the effectiveness of
corrective measures.

(
D)
The State Board of Education may prohibit a school district from participating
in dual enrollment programs with an institution of higher education that fails
to comply with the requirements of this chapter.

S
ection
59-60-210
. Dual enrollment program funding shall provide tuition-free dual
enrollment opportunities for all eligible high school students, including
coverage of books, equipment, and fees if the requirements of this chapter are
met. School districts, including charter school authorizers, shall develop a
cost sharing model with institutions of higher education that ensures costs are
equitable across the state.

S
ection
59-60-220
. Subject to annual appropriations by the General Assembly, public
institutions of higher education shall use available scholarship funds for the
standard tuition rate per credit hour for each dual enrollment course taken by
a student during the summer term.

S
ECTION 3. Section
59-59-210
of the S.C. Code is repealed.

S
ECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on January 20, 2026 at 12:35 PM