Expanding Access to Dual Enrollment: The Role of Open Educational Resources

Dual enrollment continues to grow across the country, but the cost of textbooks remains a persistent barrier for many students, families, and school districts. Open Educational Resources (OER) offer a powerful opportunity to reduce these costs while improving access to high-quality course materials.

This webinar highlights findings from two recent reports by the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) and the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), examining both the policy landscape and on-the-ground experiences with OER in dual enrollment programs. Drawing on multi-state analysis and educator perspectives, presenters will explore how OER can expand access, support teaching and learning, and strengthen partnerships between K–12 and higher education.

Participants will gain practical insights into strategies for supporting OER adoption, addressing common challenges, and aligning policy and practice to expand equitable access to dual enrollment.

MHEC and SREB Reports

Using Open Educational Resources (OER) in Dual Enrollment: Stakeholder Perspectives 

This report from MHEC and the Southern Regional Education Board draws on interviews with educators, administrators, and policy leaders across the Midwest and South to explore how OER is currently being used in dual enrollment settings, the benefits institutions and students are experiencing, and the practical challenges that limit broader adoption.

Dual Enrollment and Open Educational Resources: Intersections and Opportunities in State Policy

This report from MHEC and the Southern Regional Education Board examines the state policy landscape, highlighting where dual enrollment and OER policies intersect and where they remain disconnected, and outlines concrete policy levers states can use to bring these two innovations to scale in a complimentary manner. (February 2026)

Presenters
Allison Buckley, Program Specialist, Southern Regional Education Board
Annika Many, OER Consultant, MHEC
Tabetha Nguyen, English Instructor, University of Arkansas Cossatot
Carrie Wandler, Senior Director of Policy Initiatives, MHEC (Moderator)