Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Most Students Receive College Credit for Accelerated Courses; Programs Reduce University Class Time

Report 06-26, March 2006




Report Summary

  • Florida's public community colleges and universities generally accept accelerated college credits earned by high school students. The institutions have established policies for awarding accelerated college credit hours that typically meet or exceed the levels recommended by the Department of Education.
  • Almost 75% of high school students who take and pass acceleration courses subsequently attend a public college in Florida. Most of these students (90%) receive college credit for their acceleration courses. Students who did not receive college credit generally did not report their acceleration credits in order to take the classes while in college; these students give the state no return on its investment in these programs.
  • Generally, students can use accelerated credit hours towards their degree requirements. Students who earned acceleration credits typically graduated from college after taking 14 fewer credit hours at Florida's public universities.


Related Reports
  1. University Students Benefit from Acceleration Courses, But Often Retake Math and Science Courses
    Report 09-30 June 2009
  2. More Than 17% of Acceleration Courses and Exams Do Not Result in College Credit, Which Costs State Almost $6 Million
    Report 09-21 March 2009
  3. Modifying Advanced Placement Program Incentive Funding Could Produce Significant Cost Savings
    Report 09-12 February 2009
  4. Student Participation in Acceleration Programs Has Increased; Legislature Has Taken Steps to Reduce Program Costs
    Report 08-70 December 2008
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
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