Improving Online Dual Enrollment Instruction in Minnesota
One proven way to increase college and career readiness among high schoolers is to offer them the opportunity to earn college credit during high school—which is typically referred to as dual enrollment or dual credit. Online dual enrollment courses, in particular, can greatly expand student access to dual enrollment opportunities, which may ultimately improve educational outcomes in both high school and college.
In 2022, the U.S. Department of Education awarded Jobs for the Future (JFF) an Educational Innovation and Research grant to explore the expansion and improvement of online dual enrollment in Minnesota. Through this grant, JFF partnered with two community and technical colleges to offer a ground-breaking model known as the Increasing College Access Network (ICAN). JFF also partnered with the Greater Twin Cities United Way and FullScale to support implementation of the model.
Evaluating the ICAN Model
The ICAN model: (1) offers a high-quality, scalable, online dual enrollment option in core college math and English courses; and (2) deliberately incorporates strategies to improve students’ self-esteem, self-efficacy, self-regulation, and future orientation.
JFF and AIR partnered to evaluate the ICAN model and explore how it has been implemented in Minnesota. This work will also include an assessment of ICAN’s impact on learning and college readiness. As the independent evaluator of the ICAN project, AIR is tasked with conducting:
- A randomized control trial to test the impact of ICAN on course grades, end-of-year grade point average, perceptions of instructor support, and skill attainment; and
- An implementation evaluation and providing formative feedback regarding the teaching and learning experiences of college instructors and students.
Both evaluations are slated for completion by late 2026. A final report summarizing results of both studies will be disseminated to educators and to the general public.
