Bid to expand college credit access leads to La. study group

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Gov. John Bel Edwards' bid to ensure that public high school juniors and seniors have free access to two courses for college credit didn't win legislative backing.

Instead, lawmakers in the just-ended regular session created a task force to study the issue, including how to pay for classes that cost up to $250 each.

The Advocate reports the Democratic governor signed the Dual Enrollment Framework Task Force bill Thursday.

The plan sets up a 12-member study group that will review a wide range of issues about the courses, including how to address uneven access among students statewide, particularly in rural areas.

The task force is required to hold its first meeting by Aug. 1. A report will be due to lawmakers by Oct. 1, 2020.