Implementation Guidance: ASCENT Timeline and Considerations for Schools

With the ASCENT program no longer being capped by a number of slots, please use the following guidance on how to implement the ASCENT program in your district/charter school.

Have an ASCENT-specific cooperative agreement in place with each college that students will attend.

Considerations:

• ​Use the CE Flowchart to determine if the institution of higher (IHE) education meets the Concurrent Enrollment Programs Act (CEPA) requirements.
  • *Not all public institutions of higher education in Colorado participate or are eligible to participate in ASCENT.
• A sample cooperative agreement is available here. Districts/charter schools can edit the sample document or create their own.
• If a student wishes to enroll at an IHE that the district/charter does not have a cooperative agreement with, the district/charter may enter into more than one cooperative agreement, but that is a local decision. 

Have a student application available for students and parents/guardians to complete and sign.

Considerations:​

• A sample application is available here.
  • *Statute requires a student application. The application is for internal-use only. CDE does not need require this document.
• Verify the student meets eligibility requirements - review here.
• Share with student that their diploma and final transcripts will be withheld until they complete the ASCENT program.
  • This has been a pain point for students, so they should know upfront.
• Establish any deadlines or additional local requirements for ASCENT, if necessary.
• Determine if the student completes the form each semester or once for the full year.

Students need to apply and be accepted to the college they plan to attend (and the district has a cooperative agreement with) for their ASCENT year.

Considerations:

• Connect students with the concurrent enrollment or ASCENT office at their college so they can register, be assigned an advisor and attend any orientation sessions.
• Partner with the concurrent enrollment or ASCENT office at each college to establish communication and processes (registration, billing, etc.) on the students participating.
• Remind students the ASCENT program only covers their tuition cost. Additional costs, such as textbooks, fees, and transportation, are not required by the district to cover, though some do. Students who wish to live on campus in a dorm are traditionally not allowed to, as high school students are ineligible to live on a college campus. However, some universities may provide a waiver to ASCENT students to access housing, but housing costs are not covered by the ASCENT program.

Withhold diplomas for any student participating in ASCENT.

Considerations:

• Students may still participate in graduation ceremonies.
• By withholding the diploma and final transcripts, students are prevented from accessing financial aid. As high school students, they are ineligible to receive financial aid.
• Students may still be counted as a graduate for graduation rate purposes in the year they meet district graduation requirements. Work with your SIS and/or your district data respondent to make sure your students are coded correctly.

Code students properly as returning their 5th year as ASCENT in the Student End of Year report in your Student Information System (SIS).

Considerations:

• Work with your SIS and/or your district data respondent to make sure your students are coded correctly.
• A webinar detailing the correct coding for ASCENT students is available here.
• The slide deck for the ASCENT coding webinar is available here.

Confirm the invoice from the college(s) of credit hours billed for your ASCENT students is correct each semester.

Considerations:

• Work with your district fiscal department as internal district processes may vary.
• While districts are only required to cover the cost of tuition, some districts cover other costs, such as fees, books, etc.
• If an ASCENT student drops a course by the college’s add/drop deadline, confirm the district is not billed.

Code students as ASCENT for the Student October Count submission in your Student Information System (SIS).

Considerations:

• Work with your SIS and/or your district data respondent to make sure your students are coded correctly in order to receive ASCENT funding.
• ASCENT students who are enrolled in 3-11 credits in the fall semester are coded as part-time.
• ASCENT students who are enrolled in 12+ credits in the fall semester are coded as full-time.
• A webinar detailing the correct coding for ASCENT students will be communicated out and the recording will be posted here when available.

Transcribe the postsecondary courses and credit awarded for ASCENT students after each semester.

Consideration:

• The decision to weight ASCENT courses or include them in a student’s GPA and class ranking is a local decision.

Confer diploma and add graduation date on final transcripts for any student participating in ASCENT with the school year the student completes the ASCENT program.

Consideration:

• If an ASCENT student earns a postsecondary credential in the fall semester, they are not required to enroll in the spring semester, and the district is not required to return any funding as funding is determined by fall enrollment only.
• Please advise ASCENT students who apply for college admissions after they complete the program that they are not transfer students, despite having accumulated college credits or even a 2-year degree. They should apply to college as a first-time, undergraduate student. Have them reach out to admissions offices to learn more.

Code students properly when student completes ASCENT program in your Student Information System (SIS) and on the Student End of Year collection.

Considerations:

• Work with your SIS and/or your district data respondent to make sure your students are coded correctly.
• A webinar detailing the correct coding for ASCENT students will be communicated out and the recording will be posted here when available.

Contact 

Erica Ryan
Phone: 720-576-4288
E-mail (preferred): Ryan_e@cde.state.co.us