Community colleges and their K-12 partners across the country are working to ensure dual enrollment is not only an acceleration strategy for college-bound students, but also an accessible on-ramp to college and career opportunity for those who might not otherwise pursue postsecondary education. But doing so requires more strategic investment and attention to ROI in the face of scarce resources.

This webinar will share findings from CCRC research on how colleges and their K-12 partners are finding ways to allocate, align, and sustain the resources needed to scale dual enrollment equity pathways (DEEP)—a framework for purposeful dual enrollment designed to increase the number of underserved students who pursue degree- and career-connected education and training after high school. CCRC researchers will describe how colleges are shifting from the conventional low-cost business model, which involves lighter student support but generates less downstream revenue, to one that requires higher upfront costs but generates more future revenue.

Leaders from colleges in states with varying levels of public funding for dual enrollment will highlight strategies for financially sustainable investments in advising and student supports, high-quality instruction and support, and expanded outreach and access—without passing costs on to students.

Panelists will share stories and data from their institutions and systems, highlight ongoing challenges, and discuss how they are using continuous improvement to move beyond first-generation corequisite models. Together, we will explore what Coreq 2.0 looks like and identify lessons for states and colleges considering their next steps for reform.