Dual Enrollment and College and Career Readiness: An Investigation of One School System

Abstract

Too few students are graduating from high school college and career-ready. For this dissertation, a qualitative design that included a data analysis was implemented to review a dual enrollment program and the impact of implementing various change ideas to increase enrollment of students in the program. The study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 was a quantitative review of dual enrollment eligibility and registration data of all comprehensive high schools in the studied district over four years. Phase 2 was a focus group comprised of school-based personnel involved with dual enrollment. The focus group provided a more in-depth understanding of school needs in support of dual enrollment. Three research questions guided the study: (1) What does data suggest about implementing change ideas designed to reduce barriers to enrollment in schools and the enrollment of eligible students in college courses? (2) What additional support of the dual enrollment program do school personnel suggest that may increase eligible student enrollment? (3) How do the school personnel’s perceptions of dual enrollment impact the way they interact with and support eligible dual enrollment students? Findings from this research suggest that schools that implemented a change idea observed an overall increase in dual enrollment registration over the four-year review period. The research findings also indicate that multiple factors can influence the implementation of a dual enrollment program such as the knowledge and support of the principal and counselor, and how dual enrollment fits into each school's overall culture.