A press release from State Rep. David McSweeney:

House Approves McSweeney Proposal to Help High Schools and Community Colleges Provide Dual Credits to Students

Illinois State Capitol

Springfield, IL… The House today approved a measure to create a pilot program to help Illinois high school students earn dual credit for taking community college classes, according to Representative McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills), the sponsor of the legislation.

House Bill 5561 creates the Accelerate College pilot program and is based on a local program currently being used in District 300 in Algonquin.

The voluntary pilot program provides a pathway for interested high schools to form dual credit partnerships with local community colleges. The bill passed the House today 115-0.

“Programs such as this can be used as another tool to address college readiness and can help open up the possibility of college to those who otherwise wouldn’t consider it,” Rep. McSweeney said.

“At a time when college costs are rising significantly, this could help students, who may have thought college was out of reach, save a considerable amount of money.”

HB 5561 allows a community college district board to voluntarily enter into an Accelerate College educational partnership agreement with any high school in their district’s jurisdiction. The legislation has a sunset date of three years to allow for an assessment of the pilot program’s success.

HB 5561 now moves to the Illinois Senate for further consideration. Senator Michael Connelly (R-Wheaton) will carry the legislation in the Senate.