09/24/2025
Thank you to all who attended our Dual Enrollment Symposium. The program brought together elected officials, state agency leaders, and school personnel for an opportunity to connect on and identify ways to improve pathways to opportunities for our region's students.
The IOP and the University of Pittsburgh Learning Research and Development Center (LRDC) shared findings from a newly completed report on a "Promising Practices" pilot with two Southwestern Pennsylvania school districts to expand equitable access to College in High School, or dual enrollment programs. LRDC's report demonstrated that eliminating cost barriers, providing guidance counselor advising in earlier grades, and expanding course options may improve access to and equity in dual enrollment.
Special thanks to Senator Camera Bartolotta, Chair of the IOP Dual Enrollment and Pre-Apprenticeship Task Force and Board of Fellows member, James Ayrton of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Greg Kienzl of the State Board of Higher Education, Amy Williams of NACEP, and Melanie Claxton for speaking. Thanks also to Northgate and Charleroi School Districts for participating in the study and sharing inspiring stories of opening doors to students through dual enrollment. Thanks to the superintendents, educators, higher education leaders, and elected officials who attended.
- with Learning Research & Development Center (LRDC), National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP), Pennsylvania Department of Education, Senator Camera Bartolotta, PA State Rep. Jill Cooper, and Senator Lindsey Williams.
