Two years ago, I didn’t even know what dual credits were. Now I love what the state offers our kids, and my kids love it.

Dual credit classes (also known as concurrent credit classes) are college level courses, taken in high school. The state pays for the classes in the hopes of encouraging students to go on and get a college degree. Both my senior and sophomore are currently enrolled in several dual credit classes, all for free (the state pays up to $4,125 worth of college classes a year). My kids are not the only ones to reap the benefits of the dual credit program. Last year, high school students more than doubled what the state expected to pay for dual credit classes.

College can be very expensive. My kids have not been able to get scholarships, so this program is very important to us. My oldest is currently a freshman at Boise State University and it costs him about $9,000 per semester (for tuition, books, on-campus housing and a meal plan).

My senior has been able to use the dual credit program to help alleviate his future college expenses. In two years, he has taken classes in a variety of subjects, including history, government, accounting, speech and composition. He has been able to accumulate a total of 15 college credits, or one semester of college, for free!

The cost of college can be daunting, but I am glad my kids can take college courses in high school. Not only does it help defray the high cost of college, but it helps prepare my kids for the rigors of college level courses.

Thank you, Idaho!