In May of 2012, the Michigan Legislature passed a series of public acts that allows St. Patrick High School students the opportunity to take dual enrollment college courses and have either partial or full cost of classes paid for by the State. Dual enrollment is an opportunity for qualifying high school juniors and seniors to take classes at a post-secondary educational institution while attending St. Patrick School. Students who dual enroll may receive both college and high school credit for satisfactorily meeting the requirements of the class. The credit will apply toward high school graduation and be counted as a regular class in every respect unless the student specifically requests that the credit count only toward high school graduation or only toward college credit. The class grade will be computed as a weighted grade at St. Patrick School. Students interested in dual enrollment opportunities must make provisions through the counselor.

There are times when students taking dual enrollment college classes must use their own vehicle and leave during the school day to travel to the college in which they are enrolled. When this must occur, parents are required to notify the school office that their child will be leaving during the school day. Per handbook procedures, the student is responsible to sign out in the office and sign back in upon their return.

The following process must be followed to dual enroll in college classes:

1. Receive approval to dual enroll by the school counselor.
2. Follow the application and admission policies to become fully enrolled in the post-secondary institution. All admission and application fees are the responsibility of the student.
3. Take any placement tests required by the post-secondary institution and/or submit SAT scores. Placement tests and any associated fees are the responsibility of the student.
4. Receive approval of selected course by the school counselor before registering for the class. Please note:
   1. College classes must meet Patrick School graduation requirements, and students may not enroll in college classes which are equivalent to those offered by St. Patrick School.
   2. Per state law, a course may not be a hobby, craft, theology, or recreation course.
   3. Courses must carry a credit weight of three credit hours or more. Classes of two credit hours or less do not meet criteria and will not be accepted.

Please note the following:

• Any fees associated with the class not covered by the dual enrollment bill, such as books and/or other academic materials, are assumed by the student and student’s family.
• Summer classes do not fall under the dual enrollment bill and therefore will not be paid for, nor will they count toward Patrick School graduation requirements unless specific permission is granted by the school administrator.
• Only seven classes per semester may count towards a student’s grade point average. Any class over the required amount of classes (electives) required to graduate will not count towards a student’s grade point average.
• When students do not have work for their dual enrollment class during the school day, they are responsible for using that time constructively. If time is not being used constructively, additional work may be assigned by the school administrator.
• If a student fails to complete a dual enrollment post secondary course he/she may be responsible for the fees/tuition not refunded by the post secondary institution. Failing to complete a dual enrollment course may affect a student’s eligibility to graduate on time.