Before I learned about dual enrollment I was convinced I was not going to be able to go far in my education. Not only because of financial reasons but because I never thought I had the ability to make it that far. That is the same for many dual enrollment students, many of which come from lower class families who would not be able to pay for college or are immigrants or children of immigrants who not be able to attend college otherwise. 

House Bill 444 would not only make it much harder for the lower and even some middle class to attend college, the ones who would be able to would, like most other people, spend the rest of their lives paying back an enormous amount of student debt, which can be attested to by many college graduates.

The goal of the bill is to push forward attendance to postsecondary education however the actions the bill entails would have the opposite affect, crippling a resource many use to attend college. This would lead to a decline in college attendance and eventually a decline in a competent and capable work force. 

We propose to amend this bill with the exemption of all early colleges. This will allow early colleges to continue to provide all students with their associates degrees but also lower the cost of dual enrollment for the state. 

If you agree with the terms please sign this petition and send emails to your county representatives. Also post this issue on your social media and spread the word.