2019 US Virgin Islands Code
Title 17 - Education
Chapter 5 - Public Schools
§ 41d. Dual Credit program authorized; definition; eligibility; costs and fees; rules; evaluation

(a) The Department of Education and the University of the Virgin Islands are authorized to establish a Dual Credit program. As used in this section, “Dual Credit Program” means a program that allows high school students to enroll in college-level courses offered by the University of the Virgin Islands that may be academic or career-technical but not remedial or developmental, and simultaneously to earn credit toward high school graduation and a post-secondary degree or certificate.

(b) To be eligible to participate in the Dual Credit program, the student shall:

• (1) except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, be enrolled in high school in one-half or more of the minimum course requirements approved by the Department of Education and/or the Board of Education for high school students; and

• (2) obtain permission from a school counselor and the school principal and shall meet the eligibility requirements set forth by the University of the Virgin Islands prior to enrolling in a dual credit course.

(c) A student who has met the eligibility criteria provided for in subsection (b) of this section in a fall or spring semester, and who has not graduated or earned a general equivalency diploma (G.E.D.), or its equivalent, may take courses for dual credit during the immediately succeeding semester.

(d) The school that the student attends shall pay the costs of the required textbooks and other course supplies for the post secondary course that the student is enrolled in through purchase arrangements with the bookstore at the University of the Virgin Islands or other cost-efficient methods. The student shall return the textbooks and unused course supplies to the school when the student completes the course or withdraws from the course. However, nothing in this subsection prevents a parent or guardian of a student from paying the costs associated with the program when funds are not available.

(e) The University of the Virgin Islands Board of Education and the Department of Education are authorized to adopt and promulgate rules to implement a dual credit program that specify:

• (1) Post secondary courses that are eligible for dual credit;

• (2) Conditions that apply, including the following:

  • (A) The required academic standing and conduct of students enrolled in a dual credit course;

  • (B) The semesters in which dual credit courses may be taken;

  • (C) The nature of high school credit earned;

  • (D) Any caps on the number of courses, location of courses and provision of transcripts; and

  • (E) An appeals process for a student who is denied permission to enroll in a dual credit course;

• (3) Accommodations or other arrangements applicable to special education students;

• (4) The contents of the uniform master agreement, developed in collaboration with the school districts, high schools and University of the Virgin Islands that govern the roles, responsibilities and liabilities of the school districts, high schools, Virgin Islands Board of Education and the University of the Virgin Islands, and the student and the student’s family;

• (5) Provisions for collecting and disseminating annual data, including:

  • (A) The number of students taking dual credit courses, to be performed by the University of the Virgin Islands;

  • (B) The participating school and post secondary educational institutions, to be performed by the University of the Virgin Islands;

  • (C) The high school graduation rates for participating school, to be performed by the Department of Education

  • (D) The post-secondary educational institutions that participating students ultimately attend, whether public or private, to be performed by the Department of Education; and

  • (E) The cost of providing dual credit courses; to be performed by the University of the Virgin Islands.

(f) The University of the Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands Board of Education and the Department of Education shall evaluate the dual credit program in terms of its accessibility to students in the Virgin Islands and its effect on the following:

• (1) Student achievement in secondary education;

• (2) Student enrollment and completion of higher education; and

• (3) School districts, each participating school, the University of the Virgin Islands, and the Virgin Islands Board of Education.

(g) The University of the Virgin Islands and the Department of Education shall make an annual report, including recommendation, to the Governor and the Legislature of the Virgin Islands.

(h) There is established in the Treasury of the Virgin Islands a separate and distinct fund known as the Dual Credit Program Fund. The Commissioner of Finance shall maintain and administer the Fund, and no funds may be made available for expenditure from the Fund, except as provided in this subsection. The Fund consists of appropriations from the Legislature, donations, grants, gifts and such other funding as may be received. The Fund must be used exclusively for paying tuition fees and the costs of textbooks and course supplies. The Commissioner of Finance shall disburse funds only upon warrant of an authorized certifying officer of the University of the Virgin Islands.