California Dual Enrollment Update

2026 MCNC Winter Conference

February 12, 2026

Funding

Dual Enrollment Opportunities Grant

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• The Dual Enrollment Opportunities Competitive grant included two different grant opportunities – CCAP and MCEC.

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• The California legislature allocated $200 million for the Dual Enrollment Opportunities Competitive Grant to establish new and expand existing middle college and early college high schools and programs as well as College and Career Access Pathways (CCAPs).

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• The CCAP funding ($100 million) was expended in the third round.

MCEC Grant Purpose

The purpose of the grant is to support LEAs in the:

• Planning and start-up of new early college or middle college high schools or programs.
• Expanding of existing early college or middle college high schools or programs by increasing the number of students served or by strengthening pupil advising, student success support services, and outreach campaigns to promote dual enrollment.
• Outreach shall be focused toward families and students who may not be college bound or who are underrepresented in higher education.

MCEC Eligibility Criteria (1)

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• School districts, county offices of education, and charter schools.
• LEAs may apply for multiple schools or programs in the LEA.
• If a school received funding in a previous round, the school is not eligible for this round.

MCEC Eligibility Criteria (2)

• LEAs must provide proof of an existing or planned partnership with an institution of higher education for the creation of a dual enrollment program.
• Duplicate or identical applications will not be considered.
• Score of 39 on application narrative to be eligible for funding.

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MCEC Funding

• One-time grant funding.

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• The MCEC grant provides funding for a grant period beginning on July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.

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• The total grant budget for the MCEC Grant Request for Applications is $250,000.

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• No match is needed.

MCEC Funding Distribution

• Funds will be distributed by December 1, 2026.

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• The CDE withholds 10% to ensure program compliance.

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• The grant period covers the 2026‒2028 school years.

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• All funds must be expended by June 30, 2028.

Timeline (1)

Timeline (2)

Reporting Requirement Dates

Application Submission

• The application is submitted in two parts.

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• Both parts must be complete and submitted to the CDE no later than 4:00 p.m. on TBD.

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Application Submission – Part 1

• Submission of the 2026–27 MCEC Application Narrative (online)

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• Must receive a score of 39 or above to be eligible for funding.

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Application Submission – Part 2

An email to MCECgrant@cde.ca.gov containing the following:

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• Attachment I: Budget Worksheet (10 points)

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• Attachment II: Letter of Commitment from college signed by the CEO of the college. (10 points)

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• Attachment III: Letter of Support from the district superintendent. (10 points)

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Reading and Scoring (1)

• Applications will be read and scored by a minimum of two readers.

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• More than a 10-point difference, a third read will be required.

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• Reading will take place during April and May 2026

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Reading and Scoring (2)

• Total of 90 points possible
• 60 points for Application Narrative
• 10 points for Budget Narrative
• 10 points for Community College Letter of Commitment
• 10 points for the District Superintendent Letter of Support
• Must score at 39 or above on the application narrative to be eligible for funding.

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How Grants Funds Have Been Used (1)

• Hired an Early College Specialists to develop program pathways with community college.
• Created a four-year course of study in which students can earn an IGETC completion.
• Planned and opened a middle college high school with nine and tenth grade students, totaling 53 students.
• Implemented five career-focused AA/AS or certificate pathways.
• Established structures for ongoing student advising and course planning.

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How Grants Funds Have Been Used (2)

• Expanded our early college by increasing the number of students served, the dual enrollment courses offered. Increased the amount of college and career counseling and access to that counseling.
• Over the past two years, provided 350 students to access early college experiences. Over 100 students have earned their AA degree.
• Established dual enrollment branding for program promotional purposes. The promotional efforts resulted in an exponential increase in student interest and participation.

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Resources

• 2026 MCEC RFA: https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/r17/mcec26rfa.asp
• Program web page: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/hs/duenconstgs.asp
• Questions: MCECgrant@cde.ca.gov
• There will be a MCEC Grant webinar on February 25 at 1:00 p.m.

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Possible State Funding

• Governor Newsom’s January Budget Summary:

Building on prior Master Plan investments, the Budget proposes: (1) $100 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund to increase access to college and career pathways for high school students, including expanding access to dual enrollment and dual credit opportunities, and (2) including prioritizing creation and expansion of dual enrollment and pathways programs with funds allocated through the $2.8 billion Student Support and Discretionary Block Grant.

Possible State Funding (2)

• The $25 million that the Chancellor’s Office requested was not in the budget.

New Legislation – Trailer Bill Language

• Amends Education Code 41585 (Dual Enrollment Opportunity Grant) to:
• Expand an existing MCHS or ECHS or program.
• Use unexpended funds for professional development for educators to teach dual enrollment courses.
• Remove the 50 percent for CCAP and 50 percent for MCEC.
• Allocate $50,000 extra to LEAs to expand dual enrollment opportunities to justice-involved youth in county-operated facilities.
• Include another report of how funds were used on or before June 30, 2030.

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New Legislation – Trailer Bill Language (1)

• Amends Education Code 46141 to exempt dual enrollment programs from the minimum school day of 240 minutes.
• Amends Education Code 46146.5 to include CCAP in the minimum school day of 180 minutes.
• Adds Education Code 76001.5 that dual credit courses.
• Amends Education Code 76004 to include ROCs and ROPs to CCAP partnership agreements.

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New Legislation – Trailer Bill Language (2)

• Defines that the $100 million in the 2026 Governor’s Budget will be a competitive grant.
• Funds must be encumbered by June 30, 2029.
• Trailer Bill at: https://trailerbill.dof.ca.gov/public/trailerBill/pdf/1386

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Budget Revision Process

Budget Revisions

• Not necessary if you are rolling money over from year to year.

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• Budget revisions are necessary if you are moving funds between object codes.

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• There is a 10% change in the same object code.

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Budget Revisions (1)

• Download a clean copy of the budget spreadsheet or make a copy of the current budget spreadsheet
• 2023 CCAP RFA (Round 1) https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/r17/ccap23rfa.asp
• 2024 CCAP RFA (Round 2) https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/r17/ccap24rfa.asp
• 2025 CCAP RFA (Round 3)

https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/r17/ccap25rfa.asp

• 2023 MCEC RFA (Round 1)

https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/r17/mcec23rfa.asp

• 2024 MCEC RFA (Round 2)

https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/r17/mcec24rfa.asp

• 2025 MCEC RFA (Round 3)

https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/r17/mcec25rfa.asp

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Budget Revisions (2)

• If you are spending money from Object Code 6000 (Capital Outlay), you will need prior approval from the CDE.
• Email MCECgrant@cde.ca.gov or CCAPgrant@cde.ca.gov for the necessary paperwork.
• Send the revised budget to Diane Crum at dcrum@cde.ca.gov or Justin Keithline at Jkeithline@cde.ca.gov.

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Budget Revisions (3)

• We will contact you with questions or to let you know the budget revisions have been approved.

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• Obtain District Superintendent signature and return to whoever you were working with.

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Sample Budget Revision 1000

Old Way

• Certificated Personnel Salaries

New Way

• Certificated Salaries Teacher ($112 Hr x 120hrs/CC class 3 hrs per week) = $13,440 Counselor X Time ($112 Hr x 20 hrs/support enrollment and ongoing academic advising) = $2240 Admin X Time ($117 Hr x 18hrs/program coordination beginning and end of each semester) = $2106

Sample Budget Revision 2000

Old Way

• Classified Personnel Salaries

New Way

• Classified Salaries Clerical ($82 Hr x 60 hrs)= $4920 Clerical will follow up with students and families, will support monitoring of paperwork and attendance, estimated 1-2 hours per week.

Sample Budget Revision 3000

Old Way

• Employee Benefits

New Way

• Employee Benefits. 30% of $17,786 (Certificated) = $5,335.80 40% of $4920 (Classified) = $1,968. Total: $7303.80

Sample Budget Revision 4000

Old Way

• Employee Benefits

New Way

• Supplies $959 (1 inch binder @ $14 for 60 students = $840) + (3 packs of 24 post-it notes x $16 = $48) + (1 pack of 60 highlighters @ $17 = $17) + (3 packs of 24 pens # $18 = $54

Total = $959

Sample Budget Revision 5000 (1)

Old Way

• Services and Other Operating Expenditures

New Way

• Buses ($849/bus x 12 = $10,188. 8 will take all students (ranging from 25 to 50 per site) to visit a community college of the Los Angeles Community College District plus Pasadena City College Students will write a digital vlog about their visits and recommendations so that each satellite site can learn from the others.

Sample Budget Revision 5000 (2)

Old Way

• Services and Other Operating Expenditures

New Way

• Conference registration 1 admin / 4 teachers: $ 950.00 Lodging for 3 nights @$ 270.00 per night x 5 per diem, 3 days x 60.00 x 5 Mileage 3 x 80 miles RT = 240 x .66= $ 52.80 x 5 Southwest flight = N/A year 1 / Year 2 = $ 400.00 x 3 = $ 1200.00

Total = $11,899

Reporting Requirements

2023 (Round 1) Year 1 Annual Budget Expenditure and Report

• Due date was August 1, 2024

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• CCAP Report

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2023CCAPYear1Report

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• MCEC Report

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2023MCECYear1Report

2023 (Round 1) Year 2 Annual Budget Expenditure and Report

• Due date was September 2, 2025

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• CCAP Report

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2023CCAPYear2Report

• MCEC Report

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2023MCECYear2Report

2024 (Round 2) Year 1 Annual Budget Expenditure and Report

• Due date was September 2, 2025

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• CCAP Report

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2024CCAPYear1Report

• MCEC Report

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2024MCECYear1Report

Baseline Data

• Round 1 Baseline Data Report was due December 2023 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BaselineDataReportRound1

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• Round 2 Baseline Data Report was due December 2024

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BaselineDataReportRound2

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• Round 3 Baseline Data Report was due by December 2025

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BaselineDataReportRound3

Future Reporting Dates

• Annual Reports and Budget Expenditures for all rounds are due in September (2026 & 2027)

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• End of project data (Rounds 1 & 2) will be due in December 2026

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• End of Project Reports for rounds 1, 2, & 3 will be due in September 2027

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Questions

Other Resources

Bridge to Success: Navigating Dual Enrollment

• Spotify, Apple Music, iHeart,
• Building Strong Dual Enrollment Partnerships
• Equity and Inclusion
• Student Recruitment and Enrollment Strategies
• Pathway Design
• Supporting Students
• Successful Stories
• Open Topics

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California Dual Enrollment Newsletter

• Quarterly newsletter
• Student spotlight
• Share success stories with me!
• To subscribe to the Dual Enrollment listserv, send a "blank" message to join-dualenrollment@mlist.cde.ca.gov

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Exemplary Dual Enrollment Award

• To identify and recognize schools that have exemplary dual enrollment programs.
• Will open again in 2028.
• Visit the Exemplary Dual Enrollment web page at: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/ed/

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Contacts

• Diane Crum dcrum@cde.ca.gov

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• MCECgrant@cde.ca.gov

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Thank You