Office of Strategic Planning and Partnerships

Connecticut State
Department of Education
Charlene M. Russell-Tucker
Commissioner of Education
Office of Strategic Planning and Partnerships
CSDE Dual Credit Opportunity Grant
2026 - 2027
Purpose
To establish a grant program that supports the sustainability and growth of dual credit
programs led by Connecticut institutions of higher education, with the goal of increasing
participation among high-need students.
Application Due:
October 15, 2026
This document is for information only
The application must be completed on-line
through the CSDE website.
No paper or email applications will be accepted.
Published: August 2026

An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
The Connecticut State Department of Education is committed to a policy of equal
opportunity/affirmative action for all qualified persons. The Connecticut Department of
Education does not discriminate in any employment practice, education program, or
educational activity on the basis of: race; color; religious creed; age; sex; pregnancy;
sexual orientation; workplace hazards to reproductive systems; gender identity or
expression; marital status; national origin; ancestry; retaliation for previously opposed
discrimination or coercion; intellectual disability; genetic information; learning disability;
physical disability (including, but not limited to, blindness); mental disability (past/present
history thereof); military or veteran status; status as a victim of domestic violence; or
criminal record in state employment, in accordance with applicable statutes, unless there
is a bona fide occupational qualification excluding persons in any of the aforementioned
protected classes. Inquiries regarding the Connecticut State Department of Education's
nondiscrimination policies should be directed to: Attorney Louis Todisco, Connecticut
State Department of Education, by mail (450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 605, Hartford, CT
06103-1841; or by telephone 860-713-6594; or by email louis.todisco@ct.gov).

Table of Contents Page
Purpose and Background 1
Eligibility 1
General Information 1
Legal Authority 2
Definitions 2
Funding Structure and Grant Amounts 3
Funding Limitations 3
Absolute Priorities 3
Reimbursement Period 4
Review of Applications and Reimbursement Process 4
Freedom of Information Act 4
Application Deadline 4
Application Materials
Cover Page 5
Overview and Eligibility Requirements 6
Application 8
Anticipated Funding Request Summary 9
Certification 10
Addendum A - Attestation of Agreement for New Partnerships 11
Addendum B - Approved Articulated New Course List 12

Purpose and Background
The Connecticut State Board of Education's Five-Year Comprehensive Plan for Education
2023-2028 prioritizes creating "opportunities for all students to explore multiple career
pathways through coordinated and rigorous programs that are developed in partnerships
with institutions of higher education (IHEs) and local/regional employers, and that align
with economic opportunity and advance students in careers of their choice."
From the 2022-23 to 2024-25 school years, the percentage of grade 11 and 12 students
earning three or more college credits before graduation increased from 24.1 percent to
30.7 percent. The Connecticut State Department of Education's (CSDE) goal is to reach 60
percent by the 2027-2028 school year and seeks to increase access to dual credit for high-
need students who face significant financial hurdles that limit their participation.
To address this issue, the State will reimburse IHEs for fees associated with courses in
which high-need students are enrolled, encouraging increased participation and reducing
disparities in access to these opportunities. Additionally, to enhance the impact and
effectiveness of the grant program, the CSDE expects IHEs to actively support the
development of new and expanded dual credit course offerings.
Eligibility
An applicant must be a Connecticut IHE. To apply, the IHE submits a completed CSDE
Dual Credit Opportunity Grant application, including all the required documentation and
reporting elements.
To qualify for reimbursement under the CSDE Dual Credit Opportunity Grant, the IHE must
demonstrate enrollment of high-need students in dual or concurrent courses during the
2025-2026 school year, with tuition fees waived or absorbed by the IHE to ensure no
financial burden on the student or family.
General Information
The CSDE is pleased to offer the CSDE Dual Credit Opportunity Grant, which supports
high-need students' participation in dual credit programs. IHEs in the state can apply for
reimbursement for fees incurred by high-need students enrolled in dual or concurrent
enrollment courses, and to support the expansion of new dual or concurrent enrollment
courses offered to school districts.
The specific objectives of the grant include:
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1. Removing Financial Barriers: Provide financial support to IHEs to ensure that high-
need students can enroll in dual and concurrent enrollment courses without
incurring tuition costs;
2. Enhancing Collaborative Partnerships: Enhancing partnerships between
Connecticut IHEs and local public school districts through signed partnership
agreements, detailing commitments to support dual enrollment programming;
3. Expanding Course Offerings: Promote the expansion of dual and concurrent
enrollment courses to include new offerings that align with students' interests and
local workforce demands, enhancing academic engagement and relevance; and
4. Enhancing College and Career Readiness: Provide early exposure to college-level
coursework, skills development, and support services, ensuring high-need students
are well-prepared for the rigors of higher education and future career pathways.
The program will also focus on regularly assessing student outcomes, including
completion rates, to continuously improve the dual credit experience and ensure it
effectively meets the needs of high-need students.
Legal Authority
This grant is authorized pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) Section 10-
221w, as amended by Public Act 26-18.
Definitions
For the purposes of this grant program, the following terms are defined as follows:
High-need Student means a high school student in grades 9 - 12 who meets the state-
defined criteria for eligibility for Free or Reduced-Price Meals (FRPM).
Concurrent enrollment course means a postsecondary education course in any
academic subject or career-oriented pathway delivered at a high school through which a
high school student is simultaneously enrolled in an IHE and is taught by a high school
teacher approved by such IHE.
Dual enrollment course means a postsecondary education course in any academic
subject or career-oriented pathway delivered by an IHE through which a high school
student is simultaneously enrolled in such IHE and is taught by a faculty member of such
IHE.
Dual Credit Program means a program where high school students can take college-level
courses to earn both high school and college credits.
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New Course means a dual or concurrent enrollment course that has never before been
offered in a respective district but will be offered for the first time during the semester in
which financial support is requested by an IHE.
Funding Structure and Grant Amounts
Funding will be allocated as part of a single grant and will include several components:
reimbursement for fee waivers and expanded course offerings, and additional funding
specifically for expansion in high-demand industry sectors. The funds awarded through
this program may be used to cover eligible expenses directly related to expanding access
for high-need students, including tuition fees, technology platforms that support dual
enrollment administration, and accreditation activities that strengthen program quality.
Unallowable expenses include transportation, administrative costs, indirect costs, non-
academic expenses, and fees for ineligible courses.
Tuition for high-need students enrolled in the course is reimbursed at $300 per student for
a 3-credit semester-based course. Reimbursement will be calculated based on the prior
year's enrollment data of high-need students enrolled in dual or concurrent enrollment
courses reported by the IHE to the CSDE.
Funding Limitations
* Reimbursement is subject to available appropriations.
* If total statewide requests for reimbursement exceed available funding, the
Commissioner may prorate reimbursements or apply priority considerations for
awards.
* The Commissioner may establish annual reimbursement caps, documentation
requirements, or additional conditions to ensure appropriate distribution of funds.
Absolute Priorities
Applicant submissions must:
* include partnerships between IHEs and public school districts and
* show emphasis on expanding access to dual credit programming by high-need
students.
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Reimbursement Period
Requests for reimbursement shall be made on a semester basis and will commence prior
to the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2027.
Review of Applications and Reimbursement Process
The CSDE reserves the right to make reimbursement awards under this program without
discussion with the applicants.
All applicants (awarded and not awarded) will be notified regarding the outcome of the
review process on November 30, 2026. If a reimbursement request is approved for funding,
the Office of Strategic Planning and Partnerships (OSPP) will initiate an approval letter in
the State's Electronic Grants Management System (eGMS). The level of funding will be set
forth in the notification of the letter of approval. The CSDE will retain all submitted
reimbursement requests, which will become part of the public domain.
The CSDE will provide reimbursements in accordance with an IHE's approved reimbursement
application.
All awards are subject to the availability of funds.
Freedom of Information Act
All the information contained in the application submitted for the Dual Credit Opportunity
Grant is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), C.G.S Sections
1-200 et seq. The FOIA declares that except as provided by federal law or state statute,
records maintained or kept on file by any public agency (as defined in the statute) are
public records and every person has the right to inspect such records and receive a copy of
such records.
Application Deadline
The CSDE Dual Credit Opportunity Grant application is available on the CSDE website and
must be received by October 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
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Connecticut State Department of Education
Office of Strategic Planning and Partnerships
CSDE Dual Credit Opportunity Grant
Application Year 2026 - 2027
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Connecticut State Department of Education
Office of Strategic Planning and Partnerships
CSDE Dual Credit Opportunity Grant
Application
Overview
This application is intended for institutions of higher education (IHEs) seeking funding to
support high-need students' access to and participation in dual credit programs. The goal
is to provide no-cost options for eligible students to participate in such programs while
fostering strong partnerships with public school districts.
To enhance the impact and effectiveness of the grant program, IHEs will collaborate with
public school district partners to identify and expand course offerings that align with the
interests and career aspirations of high-need students.
Funding will be allocated as part of a single grant and will include several components:
reimbursement for fee waivers awarded during the 2025-2026 school year, reimbursement
for the expansion of course offerings, and additional funding specifically for expansions in
high-demand industry sectors for the 2026-2027 school year.
The funds awarded through this program may be used to cover eligible expenses directly
related to expanding access for high-need students, including tuition fees, technology
platforms that support dual enrollment administration, and accreditation activities that
strengthen program quality. Unallowable expenses include transportation, administrative
costs, indirect costs, non-academic expenses, and fees for ineligible courses.
The CSDE Dual Credit Opportunity Grant application is available on the CSDE website and
must be received by October 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
Only one application is required for the 2026-2027 school year. Once the IHE's application
is approved, reimbursement requests must be submitted according to the following
schedule:
* Fall Semester: December 14, 2026 - February 26, 2027
* Spring Semester: March 1, 2027 - June 11, 2027
Requests can be made for either one or both semesters.
To qualify for reimbursement, applicants must meet the following criteria:
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* Institution Partnership: The IHE must have a documented partnership with one or
more public school districts. This partnership should be formalized through a
signed partnership agreement outlining the roles and commitments of each party. It
is important to note that for any new partnership between an IHE and a school
district, the submission of the Attestation of Agreement for New Partnerships
(Addendum A) is a mandatory requirement. This document confirms that the IHE
and the school district are collaborating to provide dual credit courses, enabling
eligible students to meet high school graduation requirements while
simultaneously earning college credits.
* Focus on High-need Students: Reimbursements funded through this program
must specifically target high-need students, defined as a high school student in
grades 9 - 12 who meets the state-defined criteria for eligibility for Free or Reduced-
Price Meals (FRPM).
* Offer Credit-Bearing Courses: Dual and concurrent enrollment courses must
provide a minimum of 3-academic credits.
Applicants can access and must complete the online CSDE Dual Credit Opportunity
Grant application.
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