Parents

Essential Information for Parents

We are excited your student is considering dual enrollment at ESCC! We want you to feel comfortable with your student’s decision to begin taking college coursework. Before participating in dual enrollment, students and parents should know the following:

• The grades earned in dual enrollment courses will be a part of the permanent student record and college transcript. Poor grades in dual enrollment courses can hurt students’ chances of receiving financial aid as well as their eligibility to enroll in a four-year college or university after their high school graduation.
• Students might be responsible for transportation to and from campus.
• Students interested in dual enrollment should speak with a counselor at the high school they are currently attending prior to enrolling to determine if the program is right for them.
• The program can be rigorous and college instructors will expect them to be self-motivated. If your student has trouble speaking for themselves or studying without being forced to, it should be addressed.

Continuous Eligibility

To promote academic success and preparedness among dual enrollment students, the following requirements for continuous eligibility apply to ESCC dual enrollment students:

• Students must earn a grade of C (70) or better in all attempted college courses.
• Students who fail to meet this minimum grade requirement or who withdraw from a course will be suspended from the program for a minimum of one term. This one-term suspension may not be served over the summer.
• The students may not re-enroll until the suspension has been served.
• For re-entry, the students must reapply to the program and must meet the minimum grade point average requirements.

Dual enrollment students should consult with their school counselor to ensure they are also meeting their school’s continuous eligibility policies.

Dual Enrollment for Homeschools

ESCC is proud to work with numerous home and private schools across Alabama. Click on “Partner Home Schools” to view the complete list of home and private schools that have signed a Memorandum of Agreement with ESCC. If your school is not listed, please fill out the form below, and a representative from the Dual Enrollment Office will contact you shortly. After an agreement has been established, homeschooled students must follow the steps outlined under the Get Started Today page.

The deadlines for Memorandums of Agreement are listed below:

Fall Semester: July 15
Spring Semester: October 15
Summer Semester: April 15

FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of students’ educational records. When a student turns 18 or starts attending a postsecondary institution, the rights under FERPA transfer from the parents to the student.

A student can sign an authorization form to allow ESCC to disclose their educational records to others, such as parents or guardians. An ESCC representative must be present to witness the student’s signature.