Earning College Credit

If you are a student in grades 7-12 you can apply for College Credit Plus admission to a public or participating private college.  The college will admit you based on your college-readiness in one or more subject areas. Your home high school counselor and Great Oaks counselor can help you understand your options, deadlines, and how to proceed. You may not participate in the College Credit Plus program beyond your anticipated high school graduation date.

College Credit Plus provides more options for you to pursue rigorous academic coursework beyond the high school classroom. Under College Credit Plus, you can complete your freshman year of college or more, or explore college content that interests you. Earning college credits while you’re in high school can reduce your time and costs of attending college after high school.

College Credit Plus allows high school students to earn college credit and apply that credit toward their high school graduation requirements. Successful completion of a three or more credit-hour college course will result in 1.0 Carnegie unit earned at the high school. A two credit-hour college course will earn students 2/3 of a high school credit and a one credit-hour college course will convert to 1/3 of a high school credit.

High school graduation requirements will not be waived as a result of participation in College Credit Plus. You will not receive a diploma until after the course is successfully completed and the graduation requirement is met. However, you may participate in the graduation ceremony if proof is presented that you are progressing satisfactorily one week prior to graduation. Some school districts will have graduation requirements beyond the state minimum requirements. CCP students are still required to meet the local requirements for graduation.  

OAC 3333-1-65.2

All Great Oaks campuses offer College Credit Plus coursework in English, mathematics, science, and social studies (based on enrollment and teacher credentials).  You may also travel to the college where you have been admitted or enroll in one or more online courses offered by that college.

No. After you are admitted to a college, you can take any courses offered by that college that you are college-ready to take. Also, each Ohio high school has developed two sample pathways–one leading to 15 credits and another to 30 credits.  Students have no obligation to take courses identified on a pathway or to complete a pathway.

Yes.  Starting in summer 2016, the College Credit Plus program includes courses taken during the summer term.  The summer term will apply as the first term of the next school year.  If you want to participate during a summer term, you must submit your letter of intent to participate early enough (between February 15 and April 1) to apply and gain admission to the college and register for course(s) in the spring.  Many college summer terms begin in May.

Yes. High school credit awarded for courses successfully completed under College Credit Plus will satisfy or exceed the graduation requirements and subject area requirements of the school district. Courses successfully completed under College Credit Plus must be listed by course title on the high school transcript.

If you are a student athlete, you must remain eligible in accordance with the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) bylaws. To be athletically eligible, students must be passing five, one credit courses or the equivalent per grading period with the high school and college courses combined. Most College Credit Plus courses taken during a semester will equal one Carnegie unit, allowing students to earn more than the required five for athletic eligibility. Please check with your home high school counselor to ensure that the course work you are taking is compliant with the OHSAA.

You will be expected to follow the rules and regulations set by the college/university. You will also be expected to follow the rules and regulations set for high school students detailed in the student handbook. Once enrolled, you are eligible to receive advising from campus-based support services of that institution. Additionally, you will continue to have access to your Great Oaks school counselor and all other resources available to high school students. Participation in College Credit Plus does not guarantee you admission to college after high school. You should follow the regular undergraduate application process for whatever college you plan to attend after high school.

Once you are admitted to a college for College Credit Plus, you may take any course in the college’s course catalogue that is not remedial or religious, and that applies toward a degree or professional certificate, in a subject area in which you are college-ready.

• The State of Ohio provides funds through the state operating budget for students to participate in College Credit Plus. CCP students from public secondary schools who attend a public college are not required to pay for college course tuition, instructional tools, fees, or supplies. Nonpublic students must apply for funding in order to receive state funded College Credit Plus course tuition. Homeschool students are responsible for providing their own coursework materials ("textbooks"), but may apply for state funding for tuition. For more information, visit this page on the ODE website.
• Secondary (public and non-public) schools are responsible for providing coursework materials ("textbooks") for their CCP students. The postsecondary institution must waive fees for these students and is also responsible for providing supplemental supplies required by the course syllabus. 
• Students choosing to attend a private college may be charged a limited amount by that college, depending on where the course is delivered, and in accordance with state law. (Reference ORC 3365.07) Students who are economically disadvantaged may not have to pay costs to attend a private college. Please talk with your school counselor for details.
• A school district or nonpublic school may seek reimbursement from students/families under the following two circumstances: 1) If the student receives a failing grade at the end of the college course; or 2) If the student withdraws from the college course after the 14th calendar day after the particular course began, unless the student is identified as being economically disadvantaged in accordance with Ohio Administrative Code 3333‐1‐65.6(B)(2).

ORC 3365.07, 3365.09

Responsibility for transportation rests with the student.

ORC 3365.034, 3365.08

If you fail a course (receive an "F" or an "E"), you will receive an "F" on your high school and college transcripts and it will be computed into your high school and your college GPA. If you do not receive a passing grade, the district may, in some instances, seek reimbursement for the amount of state funds paid to the college on your behalf for that college course. The school district may withhold grades and credits received for high school courses taken until reimbursement has been made.

The school district may also seek reimbursement for the amount of tuition paid to the college when a student drops or withdraws from a course beyond the 14th calendar day after the course began.  Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch will not be required to reimburse the district as described above.

Thanks to Ohio’s Transfer to Degree Guarantee, many entry-level courses earned at an Ohio public college are guaranteed to transfer to any other Ohio public college. Credits earned at private colleges, or those that you want to transfer to an out-of-state institution, will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the institution you are seeking to attend. Go to https://transfercredit.ohio.gov to learn more about credit transfer among the state’s public institutions of higher education. This tool allows you to find the best pathways to degree completion and launch successful careers! Earning college credit will not affect applications for financial aid/scholarships limited to entering freshmen.

• Talk with your Great Oaks school counselor. Discuss your interest in taking college courses and how it fits in with your overall academic plan and career goals.
• Attend an information session held by your school.
• You and your family should contact colleges for information, application forms, and criteria for acceptance into College Credit Plus. Some materials are available from your high school counselor and at the college’s website. You must go through the procedures established by the colleges/universities to apply to College Credit Plus and to enroll in the course(s). You may have to take a college placement test to make sure you are college-ready. A map showing all Ohio public colleges can be found here: https://ohiohighered.org/campuses. Ohio private colleges can be found here: http://aicuo.edu/docs2/Map-for-AICUO-2018-19.pdf
• Prior to college class attendance, your home high school counselor will assist you in determining a course’s equivalency to a high school course(s).
• Register for classes and provide a copy of your schedule to your Great Oaks school counselor for review.