The state of Texas recently passed a new law that requires high schools to offer students the opportunity to earn up to 12 hours of college credit, a mandate that is part of a growing "dual enrollment" trend. In hopes of making college a realistic goal for students who might not have the resources to attend, more and more school districts are offering dual enrollment programs so students can spend less time and money as undergraduates.

Dual enrollment is not the same as Advanced Placement. The latter refers to advanced classes in high school that prepare students to take an exam in the spring. If you receive a passing score on the AP exam, it qualifies you to receive college credit. However, some elite colleges require a higher score than others, and not all colleges accept credit you earn in high school (whether it's through dual enrollment or through AP tests), though it may allow you to skip prerequisites.

In the past, dual enrollment meant taking college classes and earning college credit in addition to attending high school. The classes were usually off-campus (or online), and the colleges offering them weren't associated with the high school. Today, more and more high schools are becoming receptive to the idea of introducing college-level coursework to their students and allowing students to earn both high school and college credit with them. In Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College teaches dual credit classes on high school campuses to over 16,000 students. There are even "early college high schools" that work with low-income, underrepresented minorities who might not consider college otherwise. They offer a high school diploma and an Associate's degree through four years of advanced courses.

Dual enrollment may or may not be right for you, depending on your high school and your specific needs. Check back next week for some of the pros and cons you'll need to know to decide if dual enrollment is right for you.