Concurrent Enrollment

Postsecondary Courses and Institutions of Higher Education

A “postsecondary course” means a course offered by an institution of higher education and includes coursework resulting in the acquisition of a certificate, an associate degree, and/or a baccalaureate degree.

An “institution of higher education” means:

• A state university or college, community college, junior college, or area vocational school

• A postsecondary career and technical education program that offers postsecondary courses and is approved by the state board for community colleges and occupational education

• An educational institution operating in Colorado that meets state law criteria 

Qualified and Eligible Students for Concurrent Enrollment

Colorado law defines a qualified student as a person who is less than 21 years of age and who is enrolled in grades 9-12. 

MCSD Board Policy defines an eligible student as a student who is less than 21 years of age, in grades 9-12, with a 3.0 GPA or higher (2.0 GPA for Career and Technical Education courses) and with fewer than nine absences (does not include extracurricular school activity absences) in the semester prior to enrolling in concurrent enrollment.

Qualified, eligible students have two options to access concurrent enrollment courses:

1. Students may enroll in college-level courses offered on MCSD high school campuses, taught by MCSD teachers, during the regular school day.  Find classes offered at your school in the link below and talk to your high school counselor.

2. Students may enroll in college-level courses offered on an approved college campus (including online courses)  with prior approval. Students in grades 9-12 must meet the necessary course requirements and the following conditions must be met:

   • The course exceeds what is offered on MCSD campuses

   • The course must apply toward a postsecondary academic degree and/or certificate and will transfer to other public institutions of higher education in Colorado

   • The course is included in the student’s graduation plan (ICAP)

   • The course is offered through one of MCSD’s Postsecondary Partners (listed below)

*Some Concurrent Enrollment courses may be cancelled if there is low student enrollment.  The threshold to run a concurrent enrollment course is determined by the Postsecondary Partner.

Concurrent Enrollment Requirements

To be considered qualified and eligible for concurrent enrollment, students must:

• Complete the MCSD Concurrent Enrollment Application, signed by student and parents/guardians

• Complete the Institution of Higher Education (Postsecondary Partner) application/registration form(s)

• Apply for and authorize the College Opportunity Fund (if applicable)

• Have a qualifying PSAT/SAT score or complete any placement tests as required by the postsecondary institution 

• Student must meet prerequisites for the course, as defined by the Postsecondary Partner

• Have a current ICAP (Individual Career and Academic Plan) including concurrent enrollment coursework

• Student must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher for general education concurrent enrollment courses, or a 2.0 GPA for Career and Technical Education concurrent enrollment courses

• Must not have failed a concurrent enrollment course in the prior semester

• Student must have fewer than nine absences (fewer than four absences at Peak Virtual Academy), which does not include extracurricular school activity absences in the prior semester 

• Take a course offered through one of MCSD’s Postsecondary Partners in Colorado

*MCSD does not offer any concurrent enrollment summer courses

Concurrent Enrollment Postsecondary Partners and Available Courses

• CMU Tech

• Colorado Mesa University (CMU)

• Western Colorado University (WCU)

• Technical College of the Rockies (TCR)

• University of Colorado - Colorado Springs (UCCS)

• University of Colorado - Denver (CU Succeeds)

Link to Available Concurrent Enrollment Courses

Concurrent Enrollment CTE Courses Available at CMU-Montrose Campus

Tuition

MCSD pays the total tuition cost of concurrent and dual enrollment courses for qualified, eligible students, provided the student passes the concurrent enrollment course with C- or higher and has met the above requirements.

MCSD does NOT pay any associated course fees or required textbooks for concurrent enrollment courses, nor does MCSD provide transportation to college campuses.

Program Description

Accelerating Students through Concurrent Enrollment (ASCENT) is a Concurrent Enrollment program which allows students to participate in college courses after their 12th-grade year. This covers the cost of tuition; students pay for their own books and campus fees. Students should talk to their high school counselor if they are interested in the ASCENT program.

Eligibility:

CDE: ASCENT Eligibility Website

 A student is eligible for ASCENT if the student:

• Has completed, or is scheduled to complete, 9 credit hours of transcripted postsecondary coursework prior to completing his/her 12th grade year. Any remedial coursework previously taken does not qualify as a part of the 9 credit hours of required college coursework.

• Is college ready, and not in need of basic skills coursework in accordance with the pathway they enroll.

• Completes an Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) prior to declaring intent to participate in ASCENT.

• Applies, and is accepted, into a Colorado institution of higher education.

Students are not to be granted a high school diploma until they complete the ASCENT program.

Eligible students may only participate in the ASCENT program for 1 academic year.

Enrollment:

On or before February 1st of each year, MCSD shall submit to the Colorado Department of Education an estimate of the number of students in the local education provider who will seek to participate in the ASCENT program for the following school year.

• MCSD will also submit an official affidavit to the Department by May 1st with final ASCENT participation numbers and list of eligible students for the following academic year.

• Students may only enroll in Guarantee Transfer credit courses, or state approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) postsecondary program, unless parent and student sign a form indicating “credits may not transfer.” The ASCENT pathway (AAS, AS, AA, etc.) must be clearly spelled out which would include an explanation of “credits may not transfer.”

• Eligible students will be selected for participation by the high school principal or equivalent school administrator.

Funding:

• MCSD must report ASCENT students in October count to the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). MCSD must verify attendance at the IHE according to October Count procedures for the enrollment for ASCENT students. Please see “Student October Count Attendance Requirements for Concurrent Enrollment & ASCENT” for guidance on ASCENT attendance verification.

• Textbooks and fees are the responsibility of the student.

• Institutions of higher education will include enrolled ASCENT students in official full-time equivalent student reporting.

• ASCENT participants will be required to apply for Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF) funding, and authorize, for each term of postsecondary enrollment at institutions which receive COF funding.

CDE Resource Links

CDE ASCENT Home Page

CDE ASCENT Guidelines and FAQs

CDE ASCENT Slot Request Process

For questions at Montrose High School, please contact krista.brundage@mcsd.org

For questions at Olathe High School, please contact teresa.clark@mcsd.org

For questions at Peak Virtual Academy, please contact amber.bray@mcsd.org

For questions or technical assistance with concurrent enrollment, please contact john.steele@mcsd.org

For questions regarding concurrent enrollment billing or tuition, please contact linda.weyers@mcsd.org

Non-Discrimination Statement

Montrose County School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Montrose County School District RE-1J does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, age, genetic information or conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth or disability in hiring or employment practices, admission to its programs, services or activities, in access to them, in treatment of individuals, or in any aspect of their operations. The lack of English language skills shall not be a barrier to admission or participation in the district’s activities and programs.

Questions, complaints, or requests for additional information regarding these laws may be forwarded to the designated compliance officer: Michelle Pottorff, Director of Human Resources 930 Colorado Ave., PO Box 10,000, Montrose, CO 81402, P: (970) 249-7726, Email: michelle.pottorff@mcsd.org or directly to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Region VIII, Federal Office Building 1244 North Speer Blvd., Suite #310, Denver, CO 80204.