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By Tiffanie Reynolds Staff Writer

With the economic burden of dual enrollment now falling on Florida school districts, Osceola County will have to pay $1.4 million to continue the program.

The cost includes the price of college credits at Valencia Community College, as stated by the bill signed by Gov. Rick Scott last week.

Its a huge increase compared to what the district paid before, which was program instructors salaries both on and off Valencia campus. But, it is the sudden change of paying for college credits that came as a surprise to the district, rather than the cost.

Were very adaptive. We can flow with the changes that come down from the state. We just have to confront it just a little bit differently. This is just a different way of accounting for that and were just passing it on to Valencia now, said Todd Seis, School District chief financial officer.

The funding that the district receives through the Florida Education Finance Program for Dual Enrollment will pay the Valencia college credit cost $99.06 per credit. The change in cost has not altered the Dual Enrollment program, nor limits the number of high school students able to take the classes, according to Pam Tapley, School District assistant superintendent for secondary curriculum and instruction.

Dual Enrollment is a program through the Osceola School District. Qualified high school juniors and seniors can take community college classes at Valencia or their high school campus, if offered, and earn college as well as high school credits for them.

Part of the savings to the district is through their partnership with Valencia Community College. The funds from the state will cover the costs of credit hours for Valencia, but wont be able to completely cover credit costs at other local colleges or universities.

The community college, through the Dual Enrollment program, already teaches courses at four Osceola County high schools, and projects to be able to teach at even more high schools.

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Dual enrollment to cost School District more than $1 million