Part-Time Enrollment and Dual Enrollment
Q. What is the difference in part-time enrollment and dual enrollment?
A. Part-time and dual enrollment refer to two types of enrollment that may be available to students.
Part-Time Enrollment
Virginia Code § 22.1-253.13:2(N) allows public school boards to choose whether they wish to offer part-time public school enrollment to non-public school students. You can find out if part-time enrollment is permitted in your district by calling your local school board office.
If your school board allows part-time enrollment as indicated in § 22.1-253.13:2(N), homeschool students who are in compliance with the home instruction law (§ 22.1-254.1) can enroll and take the following classes: mathematics, science, English, history, social science, career and technical education, fine arts, foreign language, or health education or physical education. Some districts may allow part-time students to take other classes, but this is not common because the school may not receive funding for those classes.
Part-time enrollment in public school does not exempt students from the statutory requirement to comply with the home instruction law, § 22.1-254.1.
For additional information, please see Part-Time Enrollment in Public Schools.
Dual enrollment
Dual enrollment offers an opportunity to jump-start a college education. Most homeschool students work directly with the college; there are a small number of public school districts that offer dual enrollment through part-time enrollment.
Qualified homeschool students can enroll in one or more college classes while in high school if the college offers such an option. These students can earn credits for high school graduation and, at the same time, earn college credits. In order to dual enroll, students must pass the college placement exam and, in most cases, the student must be a junior or senior. Students can take online college classes or attend classes on campus. Parents must pay college tuition and textbook fees.
For additional information, please see Dual Enrollment and Scholarships.
