College-level coursework is rapidly becoming a standardized feature of the American high school experience. Dual and concurrent enrollment (DE/CE) programs have evolved from specialized tracks for high achievers into central pillars of national strategies for college affordability, degree completion, and workforce development. In the 2023–24 academic year, national participation surged to 2.8 million students—a 12.7% year-over-year increase—driven by expanding state mandates,

In July 2025, as Special Advisor to the Board of Regents, I was asked to provide “strategic guidance and research-driven insight to inform Board deliberations and long-term planning.” It was meant to be a year-long project focusing on four areas: 1) workforce development, 2) public higher education funding models, 3) early college models, and 4) system office structure, function and alignment. I delivered the final analysis in late June 2026, and I am proud to say that the ye