CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Board of Education approved dual credit policies for 32 county school systems this week and the president of the board wants to make sure the courses maintain quality and credibility.
Dual credit courses allow students to take classes high school while at the same time earning college credit. Studies show students who take the classes are more likely to perform well in college and more likely to stay in college.
State Board President Gayle Manchin said the school systems need to make sure the courses are strong enough to get students prepared for the next level of college courses.
“For example, if they take a course 101 and then they go to college and take course 102 are they prepared for 102? Was the quality level of that course adequate to prepare them to enter college and prepare them to go into that next level course?” Manchin asked.
The board president said Advanced Placement (AP) classes have more structure and are monitored. Manchin said she supports dual credit, but again, wants to make sure the courses stay strong.
“We don’t have exactly that same stringent level of rules (like AP classes) but we do certainly have some monitoring and guidelines in place that we hope will continue to hold those classes to a higher standard,” Manchin said.
The board approved the dual credit policies for Berkeley, Boone, Cabell, Gilmer, Greenbrier, Hancock, Hardy, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Marshall, McDowell, Mineral, Mingo, Nicholas, Ohio, Pleasants, Pocahontas, Preston, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Tyler, Wayne, Wetzel and Wood counties.