Gov Seeks to Boost Grad Rates By Enrolling More HS Students in College Courses

The new measure gives high school students enrolled in “dual credit courses” bonus points for their GPA. And the courses would be treated more like advanced placement or international baccalaureate classes, which help when applying for the state’s HOPE scholarship.

Gov. Nathan Deal signed House Bill 131 into law Friday.

“To get these college credits while they’re still in high school gives them a real leg up on being able to graduate on time from college and even graduate earlier because they’ve already gotten some of the credits while they were still in high school,” Deal said. 

He said dual credit courses are especially important for students feeling bored in high school.

“It allows them to go into a new venue with perhaps more challenging courses that are being offered at the college level and I think that serves to keep some of them in school.”

By 2020, Deal says 60 percent of job openings in the state will require postsecondary education. He said the measure helps create a more skilled workforce.