Sharing the Cost: Insights from States Funding Dual Enrollment to Expand Access

One of the most pressing barriers to equitable dual enrollment access, enrollment, and attainment is the patchwork nature of how dual enrollment is funded. States vary widely in their models, with some providing robust, sustainable streams of funding while others placing the cost burden on K-12 systems, postsecondary institutions, or even families and students themselves. How states design and implement dual enrollment funding policies has a direct impact on which students can participate and thrive.

Over the past decade, several states have reimagined their funding models with equity at the center, resulting in meaningful gains in participation and attainment. In this webinar, Bellwether staff members Sharmila Mann and Krista Kaput will share insights and lessons learned from their 2025 report, Sharing the Cost: Insights from States Funding Dual Enrollment to Expand Access. The report includes case studies on California, Idaho, Minnesota, and Texas, highlighting how state funding models can serve as levers for expanding access, participation, and attainment in dual enrollment.

Panelists:

Sharmila Mann, Associate Partner, Bellwether
Krista Kaput, Senior Analyst, Bellwether

Panelists will explore:

• The fiscal and policy trade-offs states navigate when structuring dual enrollment funding systems;
• State-level funding strategies that directly affect student access and participation, with examples of promising models;
• Targeted investments and equity-driven formulas that can open the door for systemically marginalized student groups;
• Key lessons from states that have successfully advanced equitable access through policy reform.