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Concurrent Enrollment and ASCENT
Frequently Asked Questions Updated
2/7/2011
General
Q: When can students take a college class?
A: Students may enroll in college course work in the 10 th grade, if they are college ready. College Ready is
determined by the accuplacer, a college assessment test. 9th grade students are ineligible for concurrent
enrollment. 10th grade students are limited to 6 college credit courses during the year. 11th and 12th grade
students are limited to 12 college credits per year.
Q: What if a student wants to take a concurrent enrollment class, but the student does not meet the
enrollment criteria?
A: The student must be college ready. A student needs to take the Accuplacer to see if a college level class would
be appropriate. A counselor can recommend a student for such courses as CU Succeeds or Career and Technical
course work, which may not require Accuplacer. There is a waiver form to complete for students that don’t meet
the requirements or want to take more than the maximum amount of credits allowed in a certain year.
Q: What is the Accuplacer, and where can students take the Accuplacer?
A: The Accuplacer is an assessment used to determine a student's academic placement and college readiness.
Students do not pay for the accuplacer test, if they are participating in concurrent enrollment. Students can take
the accuplacer test at their home high school or at the community college.
Q: What is required for students to be eligible for fast track?
A: Fast Track no longer exists in the same way that it did before. Under the current CE system, if a student wants
to be full-time at a post secondary institution (the old Fast Track) before they have completed their senior year
in high school, the only requirement is that the student must have completed all graduation requirements.
Q: What are the student benefits of taking Concurrent Enrollment classes?
A: The benefits of concurrent enrollment classes:
 Students can earn college credit for FREE!
 Students can get a head start on their career paths.
 The courses are challenging and rewarding.
Q: What is the GPA requirement for Students to take ASCENT/Concurrent Enrollment classes?
A: Students need to have a 2.0 to be eligible for classes.
Q: What time of the year should students enroll students for ASCENT/Concurrent Enrollment classes?
A: CU Succeeds can be done at high school registration (because the classes are taught at the high school
campus). Community College courses should be done in the spring for fall semester and in the fall for spring
semester. It is a good idea to advertise and recruit students for these potential opportunities . Deadlines will
be sent out from the Post-Secondary Readiness office. The earlier you start the better.
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Q: Can students take Concurrent Enrollment Classes from multiple institutions?
A: Yes, students can take different classes from different institutions.
Q: From what institutions can students take concurrent enrollment classes?
A: Most students take classes from either:
1) Local Community Colleges (Community College of Denver, Community College of Aurora or Red
Rocks Community College)
2) CU Succeeds through the University of Colorado Denver (these classes are taught at the high school)
3) Emily Griffith Opportunity School
*Students can take classes through other institutions, but DPS will only pay up to the community college rate.
The student must pay the total tuition and be reimbursed up to the community college rate after they pass
the class.
Q: Do students that earn Post-Secondary Credit receive honors credit towards cumulative GPA?
A: Post-secondary credits are counted towards GPS like an honors credit.
Q: How is the ASCENT program different from Concurrent Enrollment?
A: ASCENT is for students participating in a 5th year program. The ASCENT program is for seniors that have
fulfilled all local school district graduation requirements at the end of four years , and have completed or are
scheduled to complete 12 credit hours of transcripted post-secondary course work. Eligible ASCENT students
can take a 5th year of post-secondary classes through Denver Public Schools. Concurrent enrollment is for
most 10th/11th/12th grade students. It is an opportunity to take college classes, while still in high school.
Q: Are we required to implement an ASCENT program? Concurrent Enrollment?
A: Districts are only required to follow the ASCENT guidelines if the student chooses to participate in a 5th
year Concurrent Enrollment program after 2012. The district goal is to increase concurrent enrollment by
3.5% each year.
Q: What is the difference between AP classes and Concurrent Enrollment?
A: AP classes are offered through the high school curriculum. To earn college credit for an AP class, students
need to take 2 semesters of the AP class and then pass the AP exam. AP classes are free of charge regardless of
final grade. A Concurrent enrollment class is a college course. By passing a concurrent enrollment course you
will earn college credit. Concurrent enrollment is paid for by the district, but if a student does not pass the
class or receives a D in the course the student must pay for the course.
Q: What’s the realistic date for full implementation of the ASCENT program?
A: Fall 2010 will be the first group eligible. Moving forward, seniors must turn in their intent to participate
by end of August to be eligible.
Q: Can you mix and match PSEO and Concurrent Enrollment or do you have to do one or the other?
A: Districts have the option to use pieces of both programs until 2010, but there would have to be two
different MOU’s in place. In 2012, districts will have to use concurrent enrollment. PSEO goes away. DPS is
moving to Concurrent Enrollment for the fall of 2010. Students and Parents can use the enclosed waiver
form for programs such as Fast Track, etc.
Funding
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Q: Are books and fees included in the funding for these programs?
A: The legislation declares that funding for books and fees is not included; however, a school may chose to
assist a student with books and fees. If the school is not able to help with financial assistance, contact the
post secondary readiness office.
Q: What amount of tuition will students be eligible for?
A: If a student goes somewhere other than the local community college, the student would only be eligible
for the amount of tuition at the local community college tuition rate. In these cases, students will be asked
to pay tuition cost up front and then be reimbursed up to the community college rate.
Q: How will funding be determined when there are unlimited requests for ASCENT participation but
limited dollars?
A: That will be up to school districts. However, the timeline and prerequisites will limit requests. The
ASCENT Advisory board determines what each school district will receive. Then, the schools allocate
according to their own methodology.
Eligibility
Q: Are students who take remedial courses eligible for ASCENT?
A: Eligible Seniors may take remedial courses, but that coursework does not qualify as part of the 12 credit
hours of college coursework required for ASCENT eligibility. DPS will allow one remedial English or Math
090 each semester during senior year. DPS will not pay for 030 and 060 remedial; however, the individual
high school may chose to pay for this course work.
Q: Do Advanced Placement courses count as college credit for ASCENT eligibility?
A: No, a student may only use college credits with a “qualified” institution of higher education. The statute
says that students must have completed “post secondary coursework,” and AP is a high school course.
Q: Will out of state college courses count for the 12 hours?
A: No, only Colorado institutions are eligible.
Q: If there is a grade that is pass/fail but counts as a college credit, would it count?
A: It would depend on the specific higher education institution policy.
Q: Is there a transition period for students so that they don’t necessarily have to have 12 credits to
participate in the ASCENT?
A: No, because the legislation is clear about the 12 credit hour requirement. However, the CEAB
(Concurrent Enrollment Advisory Board) could make recommendations, if needed.
Agreements
Q: Are there separate agreements for Concurrent Enrollment and ASCENT?
A: Yes.
Q: If high school teachers are teaching college courses, can students take ASCENT at the school?
A: It would have to be part of the agreement.
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Q: In the agreement form, is there a disclosure so that information can be released to the high school
and the parent?
A: When students enroll in a college course, they are treated the same as any other college student. This
means the student is solely responsible for releasing information to the high school and their parents.
Q: Could you send students to a two-year or four-year institution?
A: Yes, as long as it’s in the cooperative agreement.
District Concerns
Q: Once students have met graduation requirements, they must graduate. How will this affect
ASCENT?
A: With ASCENT, students have to meet the ASCENT requirements before they are counted as a high school
graduate, and they cannot be awarded a district diploma until that time.
Q: What will be the impact of graduation for AYP (Average Yearly Progress)?
A: The department will work with the Concurrent Enrollment Advisory Board to ensure, to the extent
practicable, that districts are not adversely affected when reporting for the ASCENT students.