2024 Open Education Conference

States and institutions are leveraging dual enrollment (DE) and OER to advance postsecondary affordability and success, particularly for underserved students. Underrepresented students can benefit most from coordination of these equity-minded approaches; yet the cost of traditional textbooks may place DE out of reach of the very students who could benefit most from these opportunities. Little research documents best practices in OER implementation in dual enrollment courses. This session will provide insights from 2024 research on OER in DE, including a national overview of state OER and DE textbook policies; barriers to local OER adoption; and a playbook to guide OER and DE supporters in advocating for and integrating OER in DE—and DE in OER—at the state and local levels. The presenters will highlight approaches that support OER implementation in DE programs serving underrepresented student populations.

Attendees of this session will be able to:

• Understand how their state’s OER and dual enrollment textbook policies compare to policies nationally, and how state policies may support or inhibit integration of OER in dual enrollment programs.
• Have a solid grasp of successes, challenges, and lessons learned from state and local efforts to integrate (1) OER into dual enrollment programming, and (2) dual enrollment into OER policies and programs, particularly in dual enrollment programs whose participants are primarily students from underserved populations.
• Apply step-by-step guidance on advocating for and integrating OER into dual enrollment, based on state and local experience nationally. As appropriate, the playbook will identify:
• Recognize information gaps that OER in dual enrollment advocates can address to build support for using OER in dual enrollment programs
• Articulate arguments proven effective in persuading state and local decisionmakers to incorporate OER into dual enrollment policies and programs