Dear Parent/Guardian, I hope you are having a wonderful spring. It s difficult to believe that we are more than 75% through this school year, and before we know it, your student will be a senior at BHS! It is an exciting time, and also a time when students going into the 2015-2016 school year should be thinking about dual credit opportunities. Here at Bexley High School, we are constantly improving our dual credit opportunities for middle and high school students so they can earn college credit before they go to college. With the creation of the College Credit Plus program in Ohio law there are many changes that have taken place in the area of dual credit, especially in the areas of funding, partnership agreements, eligibility, and accessibility for students. College Credit Plus is a new law that replaces Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) and Dual Enrollment as a means for middle and high school students to take college coursework (at the college, online, and/or at Bexley High School) for both high school and college credit. In preparation for this new program, we reviewed longstanding PSEO and Dual Enrollment programs and after much thought, discussion, and research have partnered with Columbus State Community College (CSCC) to serve as our College Credit Plus provider. Your student has enrolled in English 12 for the 2015-2016 academic year. Our English 12 teachers serve as Adjunct Professors for CSCC and your student, if accepted into CSCC, may have the opportunity to also receive college credit in addition to their high school credit at no cost to you! Please read the attached document. The direction on how to apply for Dual Credit opportunities is outlined in the document. It is important to note that BHS College Credit Plus Letter of Intent Form is due by April 15, 2015 and, if interested your student should immediately apply to CSCC on-line at http://www.cscc.edu/community/dual-credit/high-school-students.shtml There is no cost to enroll and enrollment does not bind you to taking the course for college credit. If after reading the attached informational packet and you have remaining questions please contact your student s counselor at 231-4591. Sincerely, Harley Williams, Ed.D. Principal of Secondary Schools Bexley City Schools
College Credit Plus Information Guide What is College Credit Plus? College Credit Plus is a program that gives high school students an opportunity to be enrolled in both high school and college course work at the same time. Students must qualify academically and the tuition will be at a reduced rate. College Credit Plus replaces Ohio s Post-Secondary Enrollment Options program (PSEO) and all dual enrollment programs. What are some of the advantages for credit earned through College Credit Plus? For the student who is eligible for College Credit Plus, he/she must be academically ready for college level courses and be willing to follow the procedures outlined by the university while still in high school. If they are academically ready, students will enjoy the following benefits: Earn transcripted college credit and high school credit upon successful completion of the course at no cost to the student Accelerate achievement of educational goals Eliminate duplication of high school and college course content Increase the rigor and challenge of course offerings while in high school Decrease the cost of college with course tuition offered at a reduced rate Who is eligible? Any Bexley student that demonstrates college readiness by submitting qualifying ACT or COMPASS placement scores corresponding to the courses for which they intend to register. What colleges/universities partner with Bexley High School? Bexley City Schools is initiating this opportunity by contracting College Credit Plus opportunities with Columbus State Community College (CSCC). College Credit Plus courses are offered at Bexley High School by Bexley High School faculty. What is the difference between Advanced Placement and College Credit Plus? Both of these options carry college credit at many post-secondary institutions. To earn college credit for an Advanced Placement class, a student must take a national AP exam in May and score a certain level to earn college credit. Typically a score of 3 or higher of the possible 5 points must be earned to receive college credit. College Credit Plus is based on daily performance and assessments conducted in the classroom. A student must earn a grade of a C or higher to accrue college credit. Bexley High School considers Advanced Placement as the golden apple when colleges look at high school transcripts. How will I know if the credit will transfer to my future college/university? There is no guarantee that the class you take will transfer to the college you eventually attend. Some private colleges may prefer AP courses to transcripted course credits earned through College Credit Plus. Ohio colleges and universities who are participating in the program have what is known as a transfer agreement for coursework. These will transfer upon enrollment in a public college or university in Ohio. Your GPA stays with you if college credit is accepted good or bad
Do I have to go to a college campus to take advantage of the College Credit Plus Program? College Credit Plus classes may be taken either at Bexley High School, the CSCC campus, or via CSCC s on-line program. It is also possible to have a combination of these. Courses offered on the college campus will require that you provide your own transportation. What Colleges/Universities partner with Bexley Schools for classes at Bexley High School? 1) Columbus State Community College These courses are taught by Bexley High School teachers who serve as adjunct instructors approved by Columbus State Community College. The following courses are available: English 12: ENG 1100 (1 st Semester) -3 semester hours English 12: ENG 2367 (2 nd Semester) -3 semester hours Honors Chemistry: CHEM 1111 (2 nd semester)-5 semester hours How do you become eligible to participate in College Credit Plus Program? STEP 1: Decide Decide if participation is in your best interest. This should be an individual decision for each student. Discuss with your parents and counselor, they know you best and can help you make a good decision. If you are interested in one of the Bexley Campus options, register for the class through the scheduling process. STEP 2: Complete the Letter of Intent Form The letter of intent can be found at the following link for the 2015-16 school year: http://bexleyschools.org//site/default.aspx?pageid=921 or you may complete the paper copy available in the high school office. STEP 3: Apply to the College/University You must fulfill all Columbus State University requirements to earn college credit. Columbus State Community College-Deadline to apply is May 1, 2015 Step 1: All students interested in participating must first apply online to Columbus State Community College. There is no cost to apply. Step 2: Students must demonstrate college readiness by submitting qualifying ACT or COMPASS placement scores corresponding to the courses for which they intend to register. Columbus State s ACT school code is 3261. Scores must be in CSCC system no later than June 1, 2015 for autumn 2015 admission. Step 3: Complete the College Credit Plus registration form. Return the completed form, signed by student and parents/guardians, to your counselor by May 1 st. What Colleges/Universities partner with Bexley City Schools for classes taken on the college campus itself? Bexley City Schools only has an agreement with Columbus State Community College. Thus, CSCC will allow a qualified Bexley student to take college coursework on their campus while a student Bexley High School for the 2015-16 school year. 1) Columbus State Community College or its satellite campuses.
How does my child take college courses at a college campus? STEP 1: Decide Discuss with your parents and counselor. Make sure that it will fit with your interests and afterschool activities. Remember, the college won t have an excused absence policy because of practice, clubs, games or travel dilemmas. You will have to have transportation to and from the classes. Not having a ride will not constitute an excused absence from the college. Remember, you will participate in classes with adults, your academic maturity does not mean that you are developmentally ready for adult life. There are a variety of courses available on campus. Make sure that you take what you are ready for so that you don t make a poor decision that will impact both your high school and college transcripts. Students should review the CSCC course catalog for a full listing of classes. Bexley High School does not limit your participation in College Credit Plus to specific classes. STEP 2: Complete the Letter of Intent Form (last page of this document) http://bexleyschools.org//site/default.aspx?pageid=921 STEP 3: Apply to the college using the guidelines below Columbus State Community College All students interested in participating must first apply online to Columbus State Community College. There is no cost to apply. Students must demonstrate college readiness by submitting qualifying ACT or COMPASS placement scores corresponding to the courses for which they intend to register. Columbus State s ACT school code is 3261. Scores must be in CSCC system no later than June 1, 2015 for autumn 2015 admission. Students must attend orientation and complete paperwork to register for classes with Columbus State. Contact Info: 614-287-5961 Admissions Timeline/Important Dates for the 2015-2016 school year April 1st Notify BHS of Intent to Participate May 1 st Application deadline for first semester 2015 June 1 st Deadline for complete admissions process (submit ACT scores, complete COMPASS testing, submit course registration form) November 1 st Application deadline for second semester 2016
If I don t have a qualifying ACT score, then how should I apply to Columbus State and take the COMPASS test? Deadline for registering with CSCC: COMPASS testing day @ BHS: Wednesday, April 8, 2015.Monday, April 13, 2015 More information on COMPASS testing can be found at http://www.cscc.edu/services/compass/index.shtml If a student chooses to take the COMPASS test at CSCC, they should first apply and then follow these instructions: http://www.cscc.edu/services/compass/report.shtml Sample College Credit Plus 15-hour and 30-hour Pathways Provided by Columbus State Community College 15 Credit Pathway-General Liberal Arts (AA/BA path) Autumn Semester Hours Spring Semester Hours ENGL 1100-Composition I 3 ENGL 2367-Composition II 3 POLS 1100-Introduction to American Government 3 SOC 1101-Introduction to Sociology 3 MATH 1116 Math for Liberal Arts 3 30 Credit Pathway-General Liberal Arts (AA/BA path) Autumn Semester Hours Spring Semester Hours ENGL 1100-Composition I 3 ENGL 2367-Composition II 3 POLS 1100-Introduction to 3 SOC 1101-Introduction to 3 American Government Sociology COLS 1100 First Year 1 MATH 1116 Math for 3 Experience Seminar (required for CSCC AA/AS degree, but not a transfer course) Liberal Arts HIST 1151 American History to 3 HIST 1152 American 3 1877 History since 1877 SPAN 1101-Beginning Spanish 4 SPAN 1102 Beg Spanish II 4 15 Credit Pathway - STEM Focused (AS/BS path) Autumn Semester Hours Spring Semester Hours ENGL 1100-Composition I 3 ENGL 2767 Comp II 3 Writing about Science & Technology MATH 1150 Pre-Calculus 6 POLS 1100-Introduction to American Government 3
30 Credit Pathway STEM Focused (AS/BS path) Autumn Semester Hours Spring Semester Hours ENGL 1100-Composition I 3 ENGL 2767 Comp II 3 Writing about Science & Technology MATH 1150 Pre-Calculus 6 MATH 1151 Calculus I 5 PHIL 1130 - Ethics 3 ECON 2200 Principles of 3 Microeconomics POLS 1100-Introduction to 3 HIST 1151 American 3 American Government History to 1877 COLS 1100 First Year Experience Seminar (required for CSCC AA/AS degree, but not a transfer course) 1 Science based on intended major suggested (BIO, CHEM, or PHYS) Pre-requisites: ENGL 1100 placement test; ENGL 2367 C or better in ENGL 1100; ENGL 2767 C or better in ENGL 1100 POLS 1100 & SOC 1101 placement into ENGL 1100; HIST 1151 & HIST 1152 placement into ENGL 1100 CHEM 1111 placement into ENGL 1100 and placement into MATH 1030, MATH 1075 or higher CHEM 1171 C or better CHEM 0100 or CHEM 1111 or HS Chem AND C or better MATH 1148 or higher AND placement into ENGL 1100 MATH 1148 placement test; MATH 1149 C or better in MATH 1148 or placement test; MATH 1150 placement test MATH 1151 placement test or C or better MATH 1149 or MATH 1150; MATH 1152 C or better in MATH 1151 ECON 2200 MATH 1030 or 1050 with C or better and placement into ENGL 1100; PHIL 1130 placement into ENGL 1100 How are College credits converted to high school credits? 5 semester credits = 1.0 high school Carnegie Credit 4 semester credits = 1.0 high school Carnegie Credit 3 semester credits = 1.0 high school Carnegie Credit 2 semester credits =. 67 high school Carnegie Credit 1 semester credit =.33 high school Carnegie Credit How is credit transferred between colleges/universities? Credits earned through College Credit Plus are transferable to many public and private institutions in Ohio and out of the state. Students who want to transfer to another university will need to send their transcript from the Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) to the university they plan to attend. Many of these courses apply towards the general education requirement or as electives at that college. Two websites are available to help students fully understand what courses will transfer: www.transfer.org or www.ohiomeanssuccess.gov How will College Credit Plus courses impact my GPA? Per HB 487, College Credit Plus courses must receive the equivalent weight as any weighted course within a given content area. Therefore, as per Bexley Board of Education Policy College Credit Plus courses are weighted the same as Honors courses when taken at Bexley High School.
How will information about college classes be shared? FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) College Credit Plus students are college students and subject to the federal FERPA. For regular college students, this means that college records are not released to anyone, even parents, without written permission from the student. For College Credit Plus students, the high school and the college may exchange information. What is the cost for participation for College Credit Plus in Bexley? Students are limited to 30 semester credits per academic year paid for through Bexley City Schools agreements with CSCC). Students wishing to earn more than 30 semester credits per academic year will be responsible for all cost of attendance for each credit above the 30 semester credit limit. Important Notice to Parents and Students Students taking College Credit Plus courses are subject to the rules and regulations of the university they are currently attending, including add/drop dates established by the participating institution. This also includes disciplinary infractions. Your academic calendars may be different. As an example your spring break could fall at one date at Bexley and another at CSCC. You are responsible for attending both. An academic advisor from CSCC is required to meet with each student within the first two weeks of class. This may be done in a group setting. While in college courses, students are introduced to a learning environment that promotes an open exchange of ideas. Course content is presented at an adult level and class discussions require a mature understanding of divergent viewpoints and the ability to think critically on controversial issues. Students should understand that these courses are college-level courses, and the amount of work, pace, and rigor of content in college courses may be much greater than high school courses. In addition, college course grades become a part of a student s permanent college transcript and are calculated into the college grade point average. Poor performance in college courses may affect future university admissions and financial aid. Therefore, it is important to perform well in college courses to realize the benefits of taking college courses while in high school. If you earn more than 30 semester hours it is possible that you may not qualify for freshman scholarship opportunities at some colleges. If a student fails any college course, the cost for tuition, fees, and books will be charged to the student s family. Bexley City Schools will not pay for any courses that are not completed with a C or better.
These courses and the grades associated with them will be reported on both the student s high school transcript as well as the college transcript. College transcripts can be requested by visiting the respective college or university website associated with the courses taken. Bexley City Schools does not have access to college transcripts.
BEXLEY HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE CREDIT PLUS LETTER OF INTENT Letter of Intent to Participate in College Credit Plus PLEASE PRINT: Date: AFTER APRIL 15, YOU WILL NEED PERMISSION FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT TO PARTICIPATE. Student Name: Parent/Guardian Name: Home Address: PLEASE INDICATE PREFERRED METHOD OF CONTACT: Parent Phone Number (Day) (Evening) Parent Email Address Grade For the 2015-2016 School year I intend to participate in the following College Credit + Program: I will apply and attend a college class or classes on the Columbus State Community College (CSCC) campus. YES NO (Circle one) I will apply and attend an on-line college class or classes sponsored by the Columbus State Community College (CSCC) campus. YES NO (Circle one) I will select from the College Credit + classes at Bexley High School. I have registered for:
BHS English 12/CSCC ENG 1100 (1st Semester) BHS English 12/CSCC ENG 2367 (2nd Semester-Credit for ENG 1100 is a prerequisite) BHS Honors Chem/CHEM 1111 (2nd Semester only) Statement of Intent I would like to declare my intent to participate in the College Credit Plus program. I understand that signing this form does not require that I participate during the coming school year and I may decide not to participate without consequence. I understand that it is my responsibility to notify my school if I do not gain admission to my selected institution of higher education or choose not to participate for some other reason. I understand that the grade I receive will be factored in to my high school transcript with an equivalent Honors weighting AND that my grade will be recorded on my college s transcript. I understand that if I fail a College Credit Plus course that my family will be charged any fees that are incurred by Bexley City Schools. I have read and understand the Bexley High School College Credit Plus Guide. I understand that it is my responsibility to apply to Columbus State Community College. I certify that I have received counseling about the College Credit Plus program at an evening meeting or in an individual meeting with a school counselor concerning the rules and regulations for both my school and the college, and that I understand my responsibilities, the benefits and possible risks of participating in the College Credit Plus program. Student Signature Date Parent Signature Date