Students Deserve Fair Access to Advanced Courses

My name is Courtney Pania, a radiological services medical assistant serving in primary care in Louisiana. I wouldn’t have this successful career without access to dual enrollment courses when I was in high school.

Through those courses, I explored my passion for medicine. With the support of my teachers and peers, I accelerated my learning and applied course credits earned in high school toward my college degree. I graduated from Louisiana Tech University in May 2021 with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry in just three years.

With a head start on my degree, I saved time and money and had greater flexibility in my coursework, allowing me to dedicate more time to challenging courses. And dual enrollment courses prepared me for the rigor and expectations of college.

But not all students have equitable access to dual enrollment courses in high school. To make access a reality for all Black and Latino students, English learners, and students from low-income backgrounds, we all must work together to push for fair policies.

I work alongside Ed Trust in Louisiana because I want to help get the word out among our high school students about the benefits of dual enrollment. I know the benefits of these opportunities firsthand, and I want to ensure many more young people can thrive in these important courses. Can you chip in to support Ed Trust to expand educational opportunities for students today?