Illinois high school students will soon have more chances to earn college credit early, thanks to a new law led by State Senator Cristina Castro. The goal behind the law is to ease two of the biggest challenges students face today, time and cost. Dual credit courses give students a head start by allowing them to earn both high school and college credit at the same time. This can shorten the path to a college degree and help families save money on tuition.

Dual credit has proven especially helpful in making higher education more accessible. Students who take these courses in high school are more likely to finish college and do so in less time. Interest in dual credit programs has been growing steadily across the state. In 2024, Illinois saw more than an 11% increase in enrollment compared to the previous year.

The new law requires school districts to partner with local community colleges to offer dual credit classes. These partnerships will help align course content, set standards like class sizes, and expand access across more areas of the state. The law also allows qualified high school teachers to lead dual credit classes directly at their schools, which can help students who live far from a college campus.

House Bill 2967 was signed into law on Monday and takes effect immediately.