Early Start Program
LOUISIANA EARLY START PROGRAM FRAMEWORK, 2009-2010
ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
I. General criteria
1. Student must be at least 15 years of age and currently enrolled in 11th or 12th grade at a public Louisiana high school.
2. Student must have either PLAN or ACT (or SAT) scores on file at the high school.
3. Student must be in good standing as defined by the high school and meet the college/university enrollment criteria.
4. Student must have permission from the high school and his/her parent/guardian to participate.
5. Student must be enrolled in a college course for which dual credit (both college and high school credit) is attempted and recorded on both the student's secondary and postsecondary academic record.
6. Student may enroll in a maximum of 3 credit hours per semester/term, up to 6 credit hours per academic year, with Early Start funding. (The student is responsible for additional enrollment costs if exceeding the 3 credit hours/semester limit, even if the student enrolls in more than one college or university.) A dual-enrolled student is expected to follow the same withdrawal deadlines as any other undergraduate student in the college or university. See the LSUS FALL 2009 STATUS CHANGE FORM form for semester deadlines.
7. To continue enrollment in subsequent semesters/terms (e.g., spring) through this funding opportunity, student must have successfully completed (earned a college grade of A, B, C or P) current (fall) dual credit courses. Students who earn less than C or who withdraw/resign from a course may not enroll in the following semester or term with Early Start funding. Limited, documented exceptions for continuation after withdrawal may be granted by the college/university.
8. Continued state funding is not guaranteed. These criteria may be changed for the spring semester.
II. Eligibility criteria to enroll in a College Level, Degree Credit Course
1. College Level, Degree Credit Course: A course in an academic subject that generates postsecondary institutional credit and appears (a) as a General Education course on the current Board of Regents' Master Course Articulation Matrix (public institutions) or (b) on a list of general education courses approved by the Board of Regents (for LAICU institutions).
2. Student must be on track for completing (a) the Regents/TOPS high school core (if graduating in 2010 or 2011) or (b) the Louisiana Core 4 Curriculum (if graduating in 2012 and beyond).
3. Student must have a PLAN or an ACT Composite score of at least 18 (or SAT equivalent).
4. To enroll in an entry level, college level English course, student must (a) have a PLAN or ACT English sub-score of at least 18 (or SAT equivalent) or (b) meet the postsecondary institution's pre-requisite requirements.
5. To enroll in an entry level, college level Mathematics course, and student must (a) have a PLAN or ACT mathematics sub-score of at least 19 (or SAT equivalent) or (b) meet the postsecondary institution's pre-requisite requirements.
III. Eligibility criteria to enroll in an Enrichment/Developmental Course
1. Enrichment/Developmental Course: An English or mathematics course that generates postsecondary institutional credit, but not degree credit, and is designed to prepare the student for college-level instruction.
2. Student must be a 12th grader/senior on track for completing (a) the Regents/TOPS high school core (if graduating in 2010 or 2011) or (b) the Louisiana Core 4 Curriculum (if graduating in 2012 and beyond).
3. Student must have a PLAN Composite score of at least 14 or an ACT Composite score of at least 15 (or SAT equivalent).
IV. Eligibility criteria to enroll in a Work Skills Course
1. Work Skills Course: A course in a skill or occupational training area that contributes to a declared Career Area of Concentration and leads to a recognized industry based certification.
2. Student must be on track (a) for completing the Regents/TOPS high school core (if graduating in 2010 or 2011) or (b) for completing the Louisiana Core 4 Curriculum (if graduating in 2012 and beyond) or (c) to graduate from high school (having earned at least 11 Carnegie hours if a junior, or 16 if a senior) and have declared a Career Area of Concentration.
3. Student must have a PLAN Composite score of at least 14 or an ACT Composite score of at least 15 (or SAT equivalent) or a WorkKeys Bronze Certificate.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION (For High Schools and Colleges/Universities)
1. For the purpose of the Early Start program, a college course is defined as: (1) a college course taught at the postsecondary institution or (2) a specially scheduled college course taught at the high school.
2. The Program payment shall cover all costs to the student enrolling in a college course, for up to 3 credit hours (only) per student per semester or term, excluding the costs for textbooks, parking, laboratory fees, etc.
3. Students must successfully complete a current Early Start course to be eligible for Early Start funding in the following semester or term.
4. Participating colleges and universities enrolling eligible students in eligible dual credit courses through the Early Start Program will be paid at a rate of $100 per college credit hour, not to exceed $300 per course. Non-public students may enroll in dual credit courses with the same eligibility requirements and limits, paying no more than the rate paid by the state for public school students. Institutions will not be paid for non-public school student enrollments under this program.
5. Postsecondary institutions shall bill LOSFA for Program payment within 20 days of the census date of the semester/term for which the student is enrolled. The absolute billing deadline for the Fall semester is 13 Oct.