Michigan Task Force Calls for Steadier Funding and Fewer Barriers to Dual Enrollment

Michigan’s Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential released the final report of its Dual Enrollment Task Force on August 28, 2026, recommending policy changes to make dual enrollment more accessible, equitable, and aligned across the state’s K-12 and postsecondary systems. Just 7% of Michigan public high school students currently participate in dual enrollment, placing the state among the lowest nationally, even though 77.1% of dual enrollment participants in 2022-2023 enrolled in a postsecondary institution within a year of graduating high school, compared to 55.8% of non-participants. The task force found that financial pressure on school districts, test-based eligibility rules, and added costs like transportation and course materials keep many students out. The report’s recommendations include establishing ongoing, predictable state funding beyond the $40 million already appropriated for FY2027, using multiple measures rather than a single test score to determine eligibility, strengthening data systems so students understand how their credits transfer, and giving students more flexibility, including protection from repayment requirements for failed or withdrawn courses. The task force, created under a 2025 state law, met six times over the past fiscal year and included state and legislative leaders, education organizations, and subject-matter experts. Its recommendations now go to the Legislature for consideration as part of Michigan’s broader goal of getting 60% of working-age residents a postsecondary credential by 2030.