Our view: Dual-enrollment plan step in right direction

Dual-enrollment is nothing new. For several years now, high school students have been able to get a taste of college curriculum and a few college credits before graduating from high school.

[Mom in Las Cruces]

I'm really excited to hear about the possibilities this option offers high school students. There is a problem here tho. Only children in public school are allowed to participate. Children who are homeschooled or in private schools are not allowed to participate. Why? We are just like any other parents - we pay our taxes for the schools. We may not use the public school system, but we still support it. Why aren't our kids allowed the option to participate in this program??

[Pen Pal]

The column shils for the proposed ECHA without really analyzing how it can work.

As Mom in Las Cruces notes, there is a selection problem. Even if the ECHS excludes students not in public schools, it still faces problems of selection.

To reduce the dropout rate, it must pick those likely to drop out: those facing economic impediments to higher education or those having academic difficulties. Since there has been virtually no public discussion of the ECHS, it would be a good idea to have the Superintendent set for the selection criteria and the populations from which students will be selected. Do not expect such openness because it will immediate raise questions of fairness and honesty.