Alabama House committee approves bill protecting access to dual enrollment programs

by Anna Barrett, Alabama Reflector
February 12, 2025

A bill aiming to protect Alabama high school students’ access to dual enrollment programs won unanimous support in the House Education Policy Committee on Wednesday.

HB 102, sponsored by Rep. Jeana Ross, R-Guntersville, prohibits community colleges and universities from denying students access to dual enrollment programs. Ross said the bill aims to expand accessibility to dual enrollment, but added that she did not know of any specific incidents of students being denied access. 

“The main purpose of this is to just ensure that students have the option and the availability to take dual enrollment classes,” she said.

A substitute bill from Rep. Marcus Paramore, R-Troy, incorporated universities in the language of the bill. The substitution was adopted unanimously. 

Although the bill aims to expand access to dual enrollment, Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, said she wanted to see more marketing for dual enrollment courses. 

“I just find that so many of the students who fit into the criteria don’t know the program exists,” she said. 

Rep. Mark Gidley, R-Hokes Bluff, echoed Drummond saying participating in dual enrollment gives students a head start on their career. 

“I’ve been personally involved in watching what dual enrollment can do, and what a leg up it gives our students,” he said. “Many of them graduate high school, sometimes with a dual certificate, because they’ve had this opportunity.”

The bill now goes to the full House.

Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Brian Lyman for questions: info@alabamareflector.com.

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SUMMARY: Meteorologist Grant Skinner from the WKRG Storm Team advises to stay weather aware today through early tomorrow due to the potential for strong to severe storms. While current conditions are mostly calm, scattered showers and storms are developing, especially in northern areas. A warm front is bringing humid air, creating instability for storms later today and into tomorrow morning. There’s an 80% chance of rain, with risks including damaging winds, tornadoes, and small hail. The severe weather threat escalates late tonight and continues into tomorrow, with significant concerns for EF2 tornadoes in certain areas. Stay updated via the WKRG app and website.

We are WEATHER AWARE today through early Thursday as strong to severe storms are expected across the News 5 area. Make sure to have multiple ways to receive weather warnings. We have scattered showers and some brief storms this morning with mild temperatures, but our storm chances will increase later this morning. The first window of strong to severe storms is from 10 a.m. through around 5 p.m. with isolated storms ahead of the main line. Damaging wind gusts and brief tornadoes are possible. The main line will arrive closer to 9 or 10 p.m. and will finally exit northwest Florida closer to 6 or 7 a.m. on Thursday. Similar threats are possible. Our northwestern spots are under a level 3 of 5 risk while most all other spots are under a level 2 of 5 risk. Once that cold front passes Thursday, we will be cooler and a bit drier for the end of the work week with highs in the mid- to upper- 60’s and lows into the upper-40’s by Friday morning. A warm front will lift on Saturday bringing isolated showers and highs back in the 70’s, but another cold front will bring increased shower and storm chances overnight Saturday into Sunday before passing and cooling us again to start the next work week. More strong to severe storms are possible late Saturday into Sunday. Highs will cool into the 50’s with lows in the 30’s for Monday!

The WKRG News 5 First Alert Storm Team covers part of southeast Mississippi, southwestern Alabama, and northwest Florida. You can also view the full Wednesday morning forecast for the Gulf Coast here: https://tinyurl.com/5dp9smer
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A flood watch is in effect through tomorrow morning as rain continues today, raising concerns about potential flooding. Meteorologist Taven WHUR reports live from Tyson Park, where water levels are rising, particularly in creeks. There is ponding and puddling on roads, with water from creeks meeting additional flows from under the roads. The area has received up to two inches of rain, with more expected over the next few days, which could raise river levels. While no immediate overflow is anticipated, further rainfall this weekend could push rivers to critical levels.

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