{"id":13037,"date":"2026-03-05T21:11:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T04:11:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/colorado-bill-to-expand-concurrent-enrollment-advances-cortez-dolores-leaders-respond\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T21:35:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T03:35:06","slug":"colorado-bill-to-expand-concurrent-enrollment-advances-cortez-dolores-leaders-respond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/colorado-bill-to-expand-concurrent-enrollment-advances-cortez-dolores-leaders-respond\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado bill to expand concurrent enrollment advances: Cortez, Dolores leaders respond"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Colorado
Colorado Rep. Eliza Hamrick, front, speaks as, from bak left, Patty Salazar, executive director of the Departmwent of Regulatory Agencies, representatives Brianna Titone, Matt Soper and Gov. Jared Polis look on before Polis signs bills into law to bring more comprehensive guidelines into place for funeral facilities Friday, May 24, 2024, during a ceremony outside the Governor's mansion in downtown Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)<\/span>(AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

The House Education Committee recently approved legislation that would expand concurrent enrollment opportunities for Colorado high school students by allowing them to take off\u2011campus college courses from four\u2011year universities and technical programs.<\/p>\n

House Bill 26\u20111078, sponsored by Rep. Lesley Smith, D-Boulder, and Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial, passed the committee on an 8\u20113 vote.<\/p>\n

Students who utilize concurrent enrollment while in high school can earn both high school and college credit at the same time, often at little to no cost, allowing them to accelerate their path to a degree while saving money.<\/p>\n

\"Rep.
Rep. Lesley Smith, D-Boulder<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Colorado
Colorado Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial, speaks before Gov. Jared Polis signed bills into law to bring guidelines into place for funeral facilities in 2024. She is a House sponsor of a bill to expand concurrent enrollment opportunities for Colorado high school students. (The Associated Press)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The current law mostly excludes off\u2011campus programs from concurrent enrollment unless they are part of the Teaching Recruitment Education and Preparation program. The bill would allow off\u2011campus classes from four\u2011year institutions and hands\u2011on technical programs at area technical colleges \u2013 including workshops, certificate training and skilled trades \u2013 to be part of concurrent education programming, as long as they meet state and accreditation standards.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis means only high school classrooms meet the concurrent enrollment course requirements,\u201d a press release from Colorado House Democrats said. \u201cThis bill modifies the narrow requirement by allowing higher education institutions to follow state and federal requirements and accreditation guidelines.\u201d<\/p>\n

The measure now moves to the House Appropriations Committee for further review.<\/p>\n

What local school leaders say<\/div>\n

\u201cThis approach is not about replacing traditional schooling \u2013 it is about expanding opportunity,\u201d Montezuma\u2011Cortez Superintendent Eddie Ramirez told The Journal. \u201cOur goal is to create a dynamic instructional ecosystem that ensures every student has access to a rigorous, supportive and adaptable learning pathway within their home district.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Superintendent
Superintendent Eddie Ramirez<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Ramirez said the bill provides a \u201cmeaningful opportunity\u201d for the district to better meet the needs of students, increase flexibility and allow the district to reengage families who left the district looking for better educational opportunities.<\/p>\n

\u201cHB 26\u20111078 provides a framework that empowers districts like ours to innovate responsibly while maintaining high standards and fiscal stewardship,\u201d he added. \u201cUltimately, it positions M\u2011CSD to better serve current students and to welcome back those who are seeking a flexible, high\u2011quality public education option rooted in their community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dolores High School Principal Matt Walker offered another perspective, sharing that the bill could \u201charm students disproportionately\u201d in rural communities and stretch staff even thinner than they already are.<\/p>\n

\"Principal
Principal Matt Walker. (Dolores school district\/Courtesy photo)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

He noted that the bill could negatively affect small districts like those in Montezuma County.<\/p>\n

\u201cManaging partnerships with multiple colleges is potentially an administrative nightmare. Our staff is already spread thin, usually wearing three or four hats,\u201d Walker said. \u201cThose staff members will have to juggle different registration systems, conflicting academic calendars and messy transcript reporting. Without extra funding or dedicated staff, we are looking at a tinderbox for missed deadlines and frustrated students.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also spoke of how the bill could hurt institutions like Pueblo Community College.<\/p>\n

\u201cPCC does a lot more than just offer classes; they invest in our teachers\u2019 credentials and provide the ability to stipend on campus concurrent\u202fenrollment teachers that keep our programs running,\u201d Walker said. \u201cIf we pull students away from community colleges, we risk destabilizing the very institutions that sustain our local workforce. For our\u202fschool and community, this is not only about choice, but about protecting the local educational network that actually keeps our community afloat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mancos Superintendent Audrey Hazleton did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n