ATLANTA – State Representative Rick Townsend(R-St. Simons) commends the Joint Study Committee on Dual Enrollment for Highly Skilled Talent at Younger Ages today after the joint study committee held a final meeting at the State Capitol to adopt the official recommendations. Created by Senate Resolution 175, this study committee was tasked with examining Georgia’s current dual enrollment opportunities to develop highly skilled talent at younger ages and identify potential solutions to yield more dual enrollment participants.
“It was an honor to serve as a member of this study committee and a pleasure to work alongside my fellow legislators and a number of business and education professionals,” said Rep. Townsend. “I commend co-chairmen State Representative Matt Dubnik (R-Gainesville) and State Senator Matt Brass (R-Newnan) for their outstanding job leading the study committee. One area that we found to be of particular interest was streamlining our articulation agreements between the Technical College System of Georgia and the University System of Georgia. Fortunately, for Glynn County, Coastal Pines Technical College and the College of Coastal Georgia have existing articulation agreements in place. Additionally, I was proud to see this study committee recognize the important role Georgia’s high school and middle school counselors play in raising awareness for the many dual enrollment and accelerated pathways that are available to Georgia’s students and parents. I am eager to continue working towards any potential legislative solutions as we approach the 2024 legislative session.”
Based on the testimony and research presented throughout the study committee process, the committee identified several areas in need of improvement within Georgia’s dual enrollment program; the committee grouped these recommendations into three categories: simplify, education and invest.
The joint study committee notes that there is no clear definition for a “high demand career,” and information surrounding dual enrollment, Career Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) courses and accelerated career pathways is not readily accessible to students or parents. Therefore, the joint study committee recommends simplifying these aspects to allow for a more streamlined program that is constructively accessible and provides a clear definition of a “high demand career” and related coursework. Furthermore, the study committee recommends removing a sunset provision in Senate Bill 86 to remove artificial limits on the program; SB 86 was signed into law earlier this year and creates a three-year pilot program to allow eligible dual enrollment students to access HOPE Grant funds for high demand career initiative fields for eligible CTAE courses.
The joint study committee also seeks to educate stakeholders and enhance information sharing to allow for optimal exposure to Georgia’s dual enrollment opportunities and career pathways at a younger age. The joint study committee recommends improving the ability to gather data on “high demand careers,” as well as educating local school systems on the importance of dual enrollment and accelerated career pathways to expose younger students to these opportunities. These lawmakers also seek to ensure that there is a system in place to collect and share data amongst stakeholder groups.
Finally, the joint study committee recommends more funding for the Technical College System of Georgia instructors and school counselors. Lastly, the joint study committee recommends an ongoing return on investment analysis of the program to regularly evaluate workforce needs, related coursework, labor market demands and student access and participation.
More information on the Joint Study Committee on Dual Enrollment for Highly Skilled Talent at Younger Ages may be found here.
*Editor’s note: Photos of Representative Townsend at the joint study committee are attached.
Representative Rick Townsend represents the citizens of District 179, which includes portions of Glynn counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2022 and currently serves as the Secretary of the Natural Resources & Environment Committee and a member of the Education and Special Rules committees.
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