Early College Programs in Florida: A Comprehensive Guide

Florida is at the forefront of providing opportunities for students to earn college credit while still in high school. Two key initiatives driving this effort are Early College (EC) programs/schools and Early Admissions (EA) programs. These programs, created through state legislation, aim to make college entry and completion more efficient and successful, particularly for traditionally underserved students. The Early College Program at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF), allows qualified high school students to enroll in selected college courses to satisfy high school graduation requirements and the associate degree.

Understanding Early College Programs

Early College programs, including Dual Enrollment, Early Admission, and Accelerated Dual Enrollment, offer various pathways for high school students to begin their college education.

What is Early College?

The Early College Programs at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF), allow qualified high school students to enroll in selected college courses to satisfy high school graduation requirements and the associate degree. Students interested in an Early College program should initiate the enrollment process with their high school counselor and/or home school liaison, as high school graduation requirements must be verified prior to registration. Most college costs are waived.

Dual Enrollment

Dual Enrollment enables qualified public, private, and home education students to enroll in selected college credit courses offered by SCF. Credits earned count toward both a college degree and a high school diploma. Students may enroll in up to 11 credit hours per semester in Fall and Spring and up to 6 credit hours during Summer.

Early Admission

Early Admission is a form of dual enrollment that enables qualified 12th grade high school students to spend their senior year enrolled at SCF. Students must register for a minimum of 12 credit hours, not to exceed 15 credit hours for Fall and Spring and up to 6 credit hours during the Summer.

Accelerated Dual Enrollment

The Accelerated Dual Enrollment (ADE) program is a form of dual enrollment through which eligible public high school students in grades 11 and 12 enroll at SCF on a full-time basis. This accelerated option allows the student to concurrently complete high school and college credits by attending classes at SCF. This program provides students with the opportunity to simultaneously earn an Associate’s in Arts degree. This program is available to Manatee and Sarasota County public school students only.

Eligibility and Qualifications

To participate in Early College programs, students must meet specific qualifications.

General Requirements

Qualified students must meet the following criteria:

3.0 unweighted high school GPA (Dual Enrollment/ Early Admission), 3.3 unweighted high school GPA (Accelerated Dual Enrollment).
Qualifying placement test scores in Reading and Writing and/or Math.
Approval of high school counselor or home school liaison.
Parent/guardian approval.
Enrolled in a school or organization that has a formal Articulation Agreement with SCF for the Early College Program.

Students who earn less than a “C” in a course or withdraw or are withdrawn from a course will not be eligible to participate in the following dual enrollment semester.

Testing Requirements

Students must submit official college placement scores in Reading, Writing and Mathematics to enroll in college credit courses. Approved tests include the ACT, SAT, PERT (Florida’s Postsecondary Education Readiness Test), Accuplacer, and CLT.

To take the PERT at SCF, students must schedule a PERT testing appointment by visiting SCF.edu/Testing. Please note, if you plan to test in SCF’s Assessment and Testing Center, be sure to plan accordingly. Students must request Accuplacer scores from Accuplacer.collegeboard.org.

All scores need to be in the system for students to register. Scores must be sent through the testing organization and do not take the place of submitting qualifying test scores. Students must have a qualifying math score in the system to take any math course at SCF.

Homeschool and PEP Students

Homeschool and Personalized Education Plan (PEP) students must reside in Manatee County or Sarasota County. Homeschool students must be registered with their respective county. Students can participate in dual enrollment for 9 consecutive semesters, beginning with the first term of eligibility.

Students planning to transition to a Public high school must be enrolled in their chosen Public high school and must have an approved contract from the Public high school prior to the deadline. This is required for new students only.

Homeschool students must submit a county verification letter from their respective counties (Sarasota county or Manatee county) each year. This letter is required to register. No exceptions. PEP students must be registered with a Scholarship Funding Organization (SFO). This screenshot is required to register.

Application and Registration Process

The application and registration process for Early College programs involves several steps.

Key Steps

Complete the Early College Application.
Submit official college placement scores in Reading, Writing and Mathematics.
Submit an Early College application before completing the Early College Contract. Students are responsible for initiating the Early College Contract.
Select an Early College Pathway (Business, General, STEM). Pathways determine which courses students can take.
Read and acknowledge the SCF Articulation Agreement.
Get approval from your new school counselor if you change high schools. This is required for new students only.
When registering for courses, please be aware of the campus location, start and end dates, and the method of instruction. It is highly recommended that students register for full-term courses.
Upon satisfactory completion of the previous steps, registration will be available to students through the MYSCF portal. Students may register only for courses that are listed on their chosen pathway and have been approved by their high school counselor.
For assistance registering, please visit the Office of College and Career Success. If you plan to meet with an SCF success coach, be sure you know which high school requirements still need to be met.
Once registered, students are required to submit their SCF schedule to their high school counselor. The high school counselor must also be notified of any changes made to the SCF schedule.

Important Dates

All Early College Documentation Must be Submitted by:

Spring Deadline - December 1st
Summer/ Fall Deadline - May 15th

No exceptions after the deadline

Required Documentation

Early College Application
Qualifying test scores
Early College Contract
Online Orientation
County Letter (homeschool only)
PEP Verification (PEP students only)
Registration

Obtaining Instructional Materials

Students should follow specific instructions to obtain the required instructional materials for their approved courses.

Bookstore Procedures

You will receive important communications regarding instructional materials from the bookstore, Follett, and the office of Early College.
Go to either campus store. Be sure to find a team member and identify yourself as an Early College student. Please note that online courses may require physical materials to be picked up at the SCF Bookstore.
Scan the QR code at the bookstore and enter your G00# to receive a list of your required textbooks.
Early College students are required to choose the digital version of materials if available. The book list is in alphabetical order by author.
Bring the materials and your student ID to check out at the register, identify yourself as an Early College student, and collect instructions on how to use access codes to activate digital materials.

If you have any issues with activating digital materials, contact the bookstore for assistance as soon as possible. Many courses will have a digital platform where you will access your textbook, homework, quizzes, etc. Typically, there is a free trial.

Benefits of Early College Programs

Early College programs offer numerous advantages to participating students.

Academic and Financial Perks

Tuition-Free College Credits: Dual Enrollment gives students in public, private, charter schools and home education in Florida the opportunity to take college courses and earn college credits tuition-free. Students are exempt from the payment of registration, tuition, and laboratory fees.
Earning College and High School Credit Simultaneously: Credits earned count toward both a college degree and a high school diploma.
Accelerated Degree Completion: The Accelerated Dual Enrollment program provides students with the opportunity to simultaneously earn an Associate’s in Arts degree.
Access to University Resources: Dual Enrollment students receive university perks like a Panther ID, access to FIU Library, advising, tutoring, student resources and the chance to Experience FIU.

Personal and Professional Development

College-Level Expectations: Students participating in this program are expected to demonstrate a higher level of independence, maturity, and self-advocacy.
Career Exploration: Complete the 60-question Career Coach Interest Assessment to discuss course options that meet your academic goals.

Early College Program Examples

The Early College Program (ECP) at Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) and St. Petersburg College (SPC) offer unique opportunities for students.

Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC)

Students participating in the PHSC Early College Program (ECP) must meet with/consult their school counselor each semester prior to registering for classes. Each semester, in order to register for classes, ECP students will complete an Early College Program Student Performance Contract with the required signatures and the list of courses approved by the school counselor.

Students must be part of Pasco County Schools’ Early College Program at either Fivay or Zephyrhills high schools and qualify with a 3.0 or above unweighted high school GPA. Students throughout the county may select those programs during school choice. Students must place into English Composition (ENC1101) and into Intermediate Math (MAT1033, MAT1100). Each Early College Program high school (Fivay, Zephyrhills and DaySpring Academy) has an entry seat cap of 125.

Students must be enrolled full time - in a minimum of 12 credits (maximum of 16) in fall and spring semesters. Early College Program participants must prioritize courses applicable as general education core courses under s. Students interested in participating in the PHSC Early College Program should consult their public school counselor for additional academic qualifications for participation and deadlines regarding the application process. All applications for Pasco County Schools will select and submit to the PHSC Dean of Admissions and Enrollment Management the completed Early College Program student applications by May 16 in each academic year, preceding the fall term enrollment period Students must take a Florida Common Placement test prior to applying to the PHSC Early College Program.

St. Petersburg College (SPC)

This full-time program enables students to spend their junior and senior years of high school attending classes at SPC campuses. During this time, they work towards earning a high school diploma from their assigned school and an Associate in Arts degree from SPC. Although Early College students no longer attend classes at their high school, they remain enrolled in their assigned high school and can participate in the school’s extracurricular activities while taking classes at SPC. Enrollment in a minimum of 15 credit hours each term, leading to simultaneous completion of the high school diploma and the A.A.

The ECP classroom is a place that provides support, advisement, and a quiet study environment when students are on campus. It also houses the ECP Academic Counselor along with numerous computers for research and study purposes. Students are invited to utilize the classroom and the resources available throughout the school day.

FIU Dual Enrollment Program

FIU Dual Enrollment program, implemented in conjunction with district, charter and private schools, serves as a catalyst of community change and hope for a better future. The program follows Florida Board of Governors Regulations, as well as adheres to the Florida Statute 1007.271 Dual Enrollment Programs, Florida Department of Education Common Placement Testing, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges' (SACSCOC) Dual Enrollment Policy Statement.

FIU offers more than 190 degree options, has over 11 schools and colleges - including South Florida's only public colleges of law and medicine - and is one of the top research universities in the nation.

Accessibility and Support Services

Pasco-Hernando State College is committed to ensuring that the web and electronic communications on phsc.edu are accessible to individuals with disabilities. PHSC uses guidelines and standards of the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Levels A and AA. PHSC will make reasonable efforts to address the accessibility issue as soon as possible.

The Student Accessibility Services Office ensures equal access, accommodations, and services to its registered students with disabilities. PHSC contributes to the educational foundation of students with disabilities and supports full inclusion. Accessibility tools are provided to students with disabilities for successful learning experiences, and to be afforded the same opportunities as those without disabilities in a college setting.

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