June 23, 2026
This resource outlines how federal data systems track dual enrollment, identifies critical information gaps, and offers policymakers options to improve national data collection for better participation, program quality, and outcomes.
Nationally, 82% of high schools offer dual enrollment, and about one-third of students take at least one dual enrollment course by graduation. Program participation has nearly doubled from 2013 to 2023. However, the national data infrastructure has not kept up to better understand who is participating, what courses are taken, and how dual enrollment impacts education and workforce outcomes.
This resource examines the federal data systems currently used to measure dual enrollment participation, highlights where important data is missing, and presents policy options to strengthen national reporting. Improved data collection can help policymakers better understand who is being served, assess program quality, and evaluate the impact of dual enrollment on students’ educational and career outcomes.
Dual enrollment is a proven strategy that boosts high school, college, and workforce success. JFF’s new brief debunks common myths to clarify what these programs are and why they matter. Jobs for the Future is heading…
In this brief, JFF highlights three case studies of innovative programs that illustrate how dual enrollment can support workforce goals and the critical role policy plays in enabling these models. Dual enrollment is a proven…
Lessons from JFF’s Increasing College Access Network (ICAN) project inform essential pillars of strong state and institutional dual enrollment policies and practices, which can advance innovation in dual enrollment courses. Related Content