A GUIDE TO HIGH SCHOOL ENROLLMENT OPTIONS Part-time Attendance (Seniors only) Early College Admission Minimum cumulative GPA 2.4 (unweighted) Accelerated Graduation (Juniors & Seniors) Extraordinary Circumstance Financial Circumstance Employment College Credit Only Dual Transfer of Credit Full-time Waiver of Senior Year Early Graduation Waiver of Second Semester Alternatives to Four-Year Enrollment in a Public High School In recognition of the fact that four-year enrollment in a public high school may not serve the best interest of some students, the following options are available. (Granted under the authority of COMAR 13A.03.02.03) Additional administrative regulations and procedures may be deemed necessary by the Executive Director of Middle and High School Performance to organize and administer the program effectively 1. Part-time attendance Extraordinary Circumstance Financial Circumstance Employment 2. Early College Admission Early College Admission - College Credit Only Early College Admission - Dual Transfer of Credit Early College Admission - Full-time Waiver of Senior Year 3. Accelerated Graduation Early Graduation Waiver of Second Semester Senate Bill 740 Notification Under an agreement between Harford Community College and Harford County Public Schools to effectuate Senate Bill 740, students may be eligible to attend an approved Maryland public institution of higher education at a reduced cost, or tuition free. See your school counselor for more information. The following conditions and procedures apply to all student enrollment options: The student must meet all state and local credit, testing, and service learning requirements for graduation. The student and parent/guardian must complete an online application explaining the reason for requesting the waiver. It is the student s responsibility to maintain contact with the high school concerning graduation information. Important points to consider Students approved for this program will have an appropriate descriptive entry made to their permanent record card. Students who choose post-secondary education should be academically and socially ready for the rigors of college.
Transportation is not provided for the Early College Admission options. Students may be eligible for financial aid or scholarships prior to receiving their high school diploma and should contact the post-secondary institution to determine availability. Depending upon the enrollment option chosen, students may not be eligible to participate in high school extracurricular activities or senior class activities. Parents should contact their financial advisor, tax consultant, or insurance representative to see if reduced student attendance negatively impacts family benefits. Students who choose to work may have to provide proof of continued employment. Students should contact the post-secondary institution of their choice for specific enrollment guidelines. Option 1: Part-time Attendance Students may choose to earn a minimum number of high school credits and attend high school on a part-time basis during their senior year. Students must be scheduled to potentially earn at least 4 credits for the academic school year. Extraordinary Circumstance-The personal or family situation, social adjustment, or physical circumstance of the student is so extraordinary that typical, full school day attendance is not in his/her best interest. Financial Circumstance- The financial need of the student/family is such that employment for the student is required. Employment-The student clearly demonstrates employment readiness. NOTE: Students enrolling at Harford Community College during the regular school year must choose Option 2: Early College Admission Option 2: Early College Admission Students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.4 (unweighted) and be on-track to complete all graduation requirements. Students not meeting the GPA requirement must consult with their school counselor before applying to Early College Admission, and are not eligible for a tuition waiver. The following conditions and procedures apply to all Early College Admission options: Students must complete enrollment procedures as determined by the college. This may include an academic skills assessment and/or other prerequisite requirements. Remedial college courses cannot be submitted for high school graduation requirements. Students are responsible for providing their high school with final post-secondary transcripts prior to graduation. For the Early College Admission (part-time) options, students must be enrolled in an HCPS school and be scheduled to potentially earn at least 4 credits for the academic school year. a. Early College Admission for College Credit Only If the student chooses post-secondary education under this option, college credits are not used for high school transfer credit. b. Early College Admission for Dual Credit This option allows students to be enrolled in a public high school and college at the same time and take creditbearing courses that count toward earning both a high school diploma and a college degree.
Each three-credit college course is equivalent to one-half high school credit. The final grades in the courses transferred to meet graduation requirements will be recorded on the high school transcript and will be calculated as part of the official high school GPA. c. Early College Admission Full-time Waiver of Senior Year Students choose to become full-time students at an accredited college or approved vocational, technical, or other post-secondary school rather than attend a fourth year of high school. Students receive their high school diploma upon successful completion of non-remedial college credits which fulfill high school graduation requirements (or their equivalent) from an approved post-secondary program. Approval for this program is good for the year in which it was approved. As a result of this process, students are officially withdrawn from Harford County Public Schools while enrolled at a post-secondary institution. It is the student s responsibility to maintain contact with the school concerning graduation information. College credits used to meet graduation requirements will be recorded on the HCPS transcript. Grades earned for these courses will not be included in high school GPA or Class Rank computations. Once all conditions are met for awarding of the high school diploma, the student will receive the C70 Early College Admission completion code, which completes the HCPS academic record. Failure to complete the requirements of the program will result in a withdrawal code of W-33 Drop Out. The student must develop an academic plan, approved by the school counselor that assures high school graduation credit requirements will be fulfilled in the first year of post-secondary study. Option 3: Accelerated Graduation a. Early Graduation (Juniors only) Students may receive a high school diploma at the end of Grade 11 through Early Graduation. Students completing graduation requirements and leaving school at the conclusion of their third year of high school will be coded with a completion code of C-60 Graduate. Students approved for Early Graduation will be promoted to 12 th grade when he/she has met the requirements to be a 12 th grader (18 credits, 2 of which must be in English). Their final GPA and class rank will be included with that year s senior class. Students approved for Early Graduation, but who ultimately do not complete the requirements of the program, will have the Early Graduation designation removed from their transcript history. Students must meet all state and local credit, testing, and service learning requirements to be eligible for graduation. Students must apply before the end of Grade 10. English classes may be taken concurrently. b. Waiver of the Second Semester (Seniors only)
Students may choose to fulfill all graduation requirements by the end of the first semester of their senior year and waive the second semester. The diploma will be awarded when the student s graduating class receives their diplomas. The student will be given a final GPA and class rank in January and will not be included in the final class rank in June. As a result of this process, students are officially withdrawn from high school upon meeting graduation requirements in January. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT EARLY COLLEGE ADMISSION What is early college admission? Early admission is a form of dual enrollment for college-level or career coursework. Eligible secondary students enroll on a part-time basis in an approved postsecondary institution in courses which may be credited toward the high school diploma and associate degree, baccalaureate degree, or career certificate. The Student Enrollment Options Program at Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) offers Part-time Early Admission for Dual Credit and Part-time Early Admission for College Credit Only. It is important to understand each option. Why should I think about early admission? As the emphasis on career planning at the secondary level increases, more students will be encouraged to select an advanced curriculum that aligns with their postsecondary goals. With hundreds of dual enrollment courses available, there is great potential to further engage and motivate students to take academically rigorous courses that capture their interests. As with all acceleration options, students must be advised based on individual needs and carefully monitored to ensure continued success. School counselors assume an important role in communicating accurate information to students and parents, and have acquired an understanding of the merits of early admission while developing collaborative relationships with college advisors and peers. Who is eligible for the early admission programs? An eligible student is one who is enrolled in a HCPS high school in a diploma track program that will ultimately satisfy the statutory high school graduation requirements. Students must demonstrate readiness for college-level or career-level coursework. Students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.4 (unweighted) and be on-track to complete all graduation requirements. Students participating in dual enrollment must maintain a 2.4 high school GPA to remain eligible. One attempt per dual enrollment course is allowed, including withdrawals from courses before the semester terminates. Transportation for students to a post-secondary educational program is not provided. Is the Early Admission for Dual Credit course weighted by HCPS? The current practice at HCPS is that the course is entered into the transcript as non-weighted. How does HCPS define Dual Enrollment? Dual enrollment is an opportunity for diploma-track HCPS high school students to take credit-bearing courses at Harford Community College (HCC). Depending upon the early admission program in which the student is approved to participate, the credits may count toward earning both a high school diploma and a college degree, or college credit only. Senate Bill 740 defines a dually enrolled student as a student who is dually enrolled in a secondary school in the State; and an institution of higher education in the State. Can a student take a college course for high school credit when an equivalent course is offered in the high school curricula?
Yes. Can a student take a college course that fulfills a state or local board of education graduation requirement? Some college courses align with high school credit requirements. Six credits of college course work are needed to equal one credit in a high school course. Your school counselor can identify courses at HCC which will meet HCPS graduation requirements.. What are the benefits of selecting an early admission option? Cost savings because tuition fees may be reduced or waived Shortens the time to earn a college degree for some students Offers challenging courses Gives students the opportunity to earn high school credit and college credit at the same time Awards students with college credit that may be transferable to most Maryland public college or universities Ensures that grades earned become part of the student's permanent high school and college transcripts How much does it cost? For the first four classes taken, you will be liable for payment in the amount of 67.5% of the usual rate per credit. For classes taken in excess of four, you will be liable for payment in the amount of 90% of the usual rate per credit. The college is also authorized to assess any standard student fees which may apply. Students approved for Free and Reduced Meals will only be charged standard student fees. Who will collect the amount charged for college courses? Harford Community College will collect amounts charged for student course work under the Memorandum of Understanding entered by HCC and HCPS. Who pays for textbooks? Students are responsible for purchasing their own textbooks. What courses are available for Early Admission for Dual Credit? Your school counselor can identify courses at HCC which will meet HCPS graduation requirements. What happens if a high school student takes a college course for dual credit and receives a failing grade? If the course is required for high school graduation, the student will not be eligible for graduation until the required credit is earned. The grade will be reflected on the high school and college transcript. Do I have to take a standardized test? Yes. You must score at the acceptable college benchmarks on the SAT, ACT, or Accuplacer in order to participate in the program. Test scores may not be more than two years old. Will dual enrollment courses transfer to other colleges and universities? Dual enrollment college credit will become part of the college transcript at the school where the coursework was taken. However, if students do not, upon high school graduation, attend the same college or university where they earned the dual enrollment credit, application of transfer credit to general education, prerequisite, and degree programs may vary at the receiving institution. Is the early admission program right for everyone? The early admission program is an opportunity to take challenging courses and accelerate education opportunities. Students who successfully complete early admission courses may save time toward earning their college degree and save money with reduced tuition costs. Students should understand, however, that early admission courses are college courses and the amount of work necessary to succeed in early admission courses may be much greater than in high school courses. In addition, Early Admission for Dual Credit courses become a part of a student s permanent college transcript and are calculated into the student s permanent postsecondary GPA.
For more information on Student Enrollment Options: Visit your School Counseling Office for specific procedures and deadlines. Contact the post-secondary institution of your choice regarding enrollment options and financial aid opportunities.
The Harford County Public School System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability in matters affecting employment or in providing access to programs. Inquiries related to the policies of the Board of Education of Harford County should be directed to the Director of Public Information, 410-588-5203.