Anne Arundel County public high school students will now have the opportunity free dual enrollment at Anne Arundel Community College.

Effective immediately, eligible Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) students who participate in the dual enrollment Early College Access Program (ECAP) at Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) will no longer be charged tuition and fees.

The shift supports recent changes in Maryland law through the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (Blueprint) legislation designed to expand opportunities for public school students to pursue college-level coursework.

The change takes effect immediately for all eligible students enrolled in credit classes for the 2022-2023 school year. Students are still responsible for payment of textbooks and related course materials during the 2022-2023 school year.

Specifically, in the 2022-2023 school year, the plan calls for AACPS to pay for tuition and fees for AACPS-approved CTE pathway, dual enrollment, and AACPS signature program courses that lead to an approved MSDE industry certification and/or are aligned with an associate degree through AACC for all 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade students. A student must be 16 years old or older (or meet additional AACPS pathway requirements) and submit an AACPS-approved ECAP form to AACC prior to or at the time of registration.

Dr. Dawn Lindsay, president of Anne Arundel Community College reflected on the new policy in a press release:

By providing free courses to current AACPS high school students, we move closer to fulfilling our vision to transform the lives of county residents by creating more college and career opportunities for them and their families. Students have the ability to take courses in person, online, and on site at some high schools – now free of charge. This change provides even greater equity and inclusion, core values of AACC and integral to our mission and strategic plan, to support student success. I look forward to enhancing my collaboration with the new superintendent, Dr. Mark Bedell, as we offer this exciting opportunity to AACPS students.

The press release also reads:

AACPS and AACC continue to work together to provide a strong pathway for students to pursue college degrees and career opportunities. Dual enrollment courses allow students to earn their high school credits and college credits simultaneously. More than 1,500 AACPS students took classes at AACC in Fiscal Year 2022.

AACC will begin issuing refunds in December for AACPS dual enrollment students who have already paid tuition and fees for the fall and summer 2022 terms.

Read the full AACPS press release.

At MACo’s Winter Conference session, “Public Education 101: Key Partners for Success,” speakers will explore the role of local government in supporting public education, especially as the state embarks on the implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.