The House Education Committee recently approved legislation that would expand concurrent enrollment opportunities for Colorado high school students by allowing them to take off‑campus college courses from four‑year universities and technical programs.
House Bill 26‑1078, sponsored by Rep. Lesley Smith, D-Boulder, and Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial, passed the committee on an 8‑3 vote.
Students who utilize concurrent enrollment while in high school can earn both high school and college credit at the same time, often at little to no cost, allowing them to accelerate their path to a degree while saving money.
The current law mostly excludes off‑campus programs from concurrent enrollment unless they are part of the Teaching Recruitment Education and Preparation program. The bill would allow off‑campus classes from four‑year institutions and hands‑on technical programs at area technical colleges – including workshops, certificate training and skilled trades – to be part of concurrent education programming, as long as they meet state and accreditation standards.
“This means only high school classrooms meet the concurrent enrollment course requirements,” a press release from Colorado House Democrats said. “This bill modifies the narrow requirement by allowing higher education institutions to follow state and federal requirements and accreditation guidelines.”
The measure now moves to the House Appropriations Committee for further review.
“This approach is not about replacing traditional schooling – it is about expanding opportunity,” Montezuma‑Cortez Superintendent Eddie Ramirez told The Journal. “Our goal is to create a dynamic instructional ecosystem that ensures every student has access to a rigorous, supportive and adaptable learning pathway within their home district.”
Ramirez said the bill provides a “meaningful opportunity” for the district to better meet the needs of students, increase flexibility and allow the district to reengage families who left the district looking for better educational opportunities.
“HB 26‑1078 provides a framework that empowers districts like ours to innovate responsibly while maintaining high standards and fiscal stewardship,” he added. “Ultimately, it positions M‑CSD to better serve current students and to welcome back those who are seeking a flexible, high‑quality public education option rooted in their community.”
Dolores High School Principal Matt Walker offered another perspective, sharing that the bill could “harm students disproportionately” in rural communities and stretch staff even thinner than they already are.
He noted that the bill could negatively affect small districts like those in Montezuma County.
“Managing partnerships with multiple colleges is potentially an administrative nightmare. Our staff is already spread thin, usually wearing three or four hats,” Walker said. “Those staff members will have to juggle different registration systems, conflicting academic calendars and messy transcript reporting. Without extra funding or dedicated staff, we are looking at a tinderbox for missed deadlines and frustrated students.”
He also spoke of how the bill could hurt institutions like Pueblo Community College.
“PCC does a lot more than just offer classes; they invest in our teachers’ credentials and provide the ability to stipend on campus concurrent enrollment teachers that keep our programs running,” Walker said. “If we pull students away from community colleges, we risk destabilizing the very institutions that sustain our local workforce. For our school and community, this is not only about choice, but about protecting the local educational network that actually keeps our community afloat.”
Mancos Superintendent Audrey Hazleton did not respond to a request for comment.
