Back-to-school season is here.
The backpacks are filled. School supplies have been purchased. Schedules are being compared with friends. And parents everywhere are trying to remember how we ever managed to get everyone out the door this early.
I remember those days well. But now that my girls are grown and both have college degrees, there's one thing I wish every Colorado high school parent knew about.
When my daughters were little, my husband and I weren't able to start a huge college fund. In fact, we were still paying off our own student loans. We knew we wanted something different for our girls, but we weren't entirely sure how we were going to make that happen.
Then we discovered one of the best opportunities available to Colorado families: concurrent enrollment.
Colorado's concurrent enrollment program allows high school students to take real college courses while earning both high school and college credit. For qualifying courses, students can earn college credit without paying tuition.
We started small. A class here. Another class there. But as the credits added up, we realized just how much this opportunity could change our plans for college.
Eventually, both of my daughters earned associate degrees one week before they graduated from high school completely tuition free.
I still think that's pretty incredible.
But here's what I really want parents to know
My girls aren't geniuses. They weren't valedictorians or kids who spent every waking moment studying. They were regular teenagers with friends, activities, dances, jobs and all the other things that make high school high school.
They simply had access to an incredible opportunity.
And your child might too.
Your teenager doesn't have to earn an associate degree for concurrent enrollment to make a difference. One class matters. Three classes matter. A semester of college credit matters. Every college course your child completes while the district is paying the tuition could be one less course you're paying for later.
For our family, concurrent enrollment became one piece of a bigger plan that helped both of our daughters earn bachelor's degrees without student loan debt. I estimate we saved between $60,000 and $80,000 along the way.
So what should you do?
Start with your child's school counselor and ask:
- What concurrent enrollment opportunities are available?
- When can students begin taking college classes?
- Which courses qualify for tuition coverage?
- Are classes offered at the high school, online or on a college campus?
- Could my child work toward a certificate or associate degree?
And please don't assume your child isn't ready for a college class. Kids will rise to the occasion. Start with something they enjoy or already do well in. Maybe your kid loves English. Or history. Or math. Let them try one class and see what happens.
I often call concurrent enrollment the ultimate "try before you buy." Before your family spends thousands of dollars on college, your teenager gets a chance to find out what college is actually like. Can I handle the work? Do I enjoy it? Is college even something I want?
Those are pretty valuable questions to answer while someone else is paying the tuition.
One class can make a difference
When my girls were little, I worried about how we would someday pay for college. I never imagined that part of the answer would come while they were still in high school.
But it did.
Colorado has created some incredible opportunities for our kids. We just have to know they're there.
So as another school year begins, take a few minutes to find out what concurrent enrollment looks like at your child's school. You don't need to have their entire college future figured out or a perfect four-year plan. Maybe your child takes one college class. Maybe that class leads to another. Maybe, like my girls, those credits eventually add up to a degree.
You won't know until you explore the opportunity.
