Laguna Beach High School may get dual-enrollment program with Irvine Valley College

Laguna Beach High School students could get a jump on college credits with a tuition-free dual-enrollment partnership the Laguna school district is considering forming with Irvine Valley College.

The Laguna Beach Unified School District board of trustees heard a brief presentation Tuesday from district administrators about the potential agreement with IVC, which would bring instructors and coursework from the nearby community college to the high school campus starting this summer. The board is expected to hear more details and vote on the proposed partnership in February.

Under the proposal, Laguna Beach High students could take courses in speech and debate, sign language, chorale performance, psychology and biotechnology that would satisfy some general education requirements at California State University and University of California schools, and the credits potentially could be transferred to out-of-state or private colleges. Students also would receive high school credit.

IVC has similar contracts with the Saddleback Valley, Irvine, Tustin and Capistrano Unified school districts. The college doesn’t charge dual-enrollment students tuition, which is $46 per unit. College courses typically are three units.

At Beckman High School in Tustin, where dual enrollment, or “early college,” has been in place since 2007, students commit to the program as ninth-graders and graduate with associate degrees along with their high school diplomas.

In addition to the free tuition, Laguna Beach Unified proposes funding textbook costs at about $100 per book per IVC course and the $20-per-semester health fee charged to all IVC students.

Laguna Beach Unified Assistant Supt. Alysia Odipo said the college hopes for eventual enrollment of about 30 to 35 Laguna Beach High students.