A partnership between HCPSS and Howard Community College to intentionally work towards earning up to a 60 credit Associate’s Degree in alignment with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future legislation.
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The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is pleased to provide several options for students to take advantage of dual enrollment with Howard Community College (HCC). JumpStart is designed to ensure students are intentionally moving through an authentic college experience with a focus on earning an Associate’s degree and / or industry-recognized certifications.
Under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future legislation, many courses are offered at no cost to students. Please carefully review the program details, linked below, for additional information or email jumpstart@hcpss.org with additional questions.
2024-2025 School Year Updates
Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, all HCPSS students with a 2.0 unweighted cumulative GPA or higher are eligible to take the Howard Community College approved courses listed below at no cost to the student through the JumpStart program.
Approved Courses
Course Code | Course Title | HCPSS Equivalent | Appropriate Grade Levels |
---|---|---|---|
ARTS-101 |
Two-Dimensional Art & Design |
Art 1 Note: High school credit requires both college courses |
9, 10, 11, 12 |
ARTS-102 | Three-Dimensional Art & Design | ||
BMGT-100 | Intro to Business & Organizations | Principles of Business G/T CC | 9, 10, 11, 12 |
CMSY-110 | Intro to Computer Systems | Exploring Computer Science Honors | 9, 10, 11, 12 |
EDUC-110 | Introduction to Education | Teaching as a Profession G/T CC | 9, 10, 11, 12 |
EDUC-111 | Child Growth & Development | Human Growth & Development G/T CC | 9, 10, 11, 12 |
ENGL-121 | College Composition | English 11 AP or English 12 Regular | 11, 12 |
ENGL-206 | African American Literature |
English 12 AP Note: High school credit only requires one of the listed college courses; Students must have already received credit in ENGL-121 by taking it at HCC or by scoring a 3 or higher on the English 11 AP test |
12 |
ENGL-207 | Ethics in Literature | ||
ENGL-210 | Fiction, Poetry, and Drama | ||
ENGL-212 | By and About Women | ||
ENGL-213 | Latin American Literature | ||
ENGL-214 | Middle Eastern Literature | ||
ENGL-219 | Asian Literature | ||
HIST-132 | Modern World History | Modern World History AP | 11, 12 |
INFO-100 | Information Literacy & Success | 9, 10, 11, 12 | |
MATH-138 or higher | Courses Beyond Algebra 2 |
Varies based on course code Note: Eligibility for courses is dependent on both student course history and placement testing results |
10, 11, 12 |
MUSA-107 | Music Technology in Society |
Music Technology I CC Note: High school credit requires both college courses |
9, 10, 11, 12 |
MUSA-140 | Music Technology & Entrepreneurship | ||
Language*-101 | Foundational Language I | World Language Level I | 9, 10, 11, 12 |
Language*-102 | Foundational Language II | World Language Level II Honors | |
Language*-201 | Intermediate Language I | World Language Level III Honors |
* World Language course codes vary by language (e.g., Spanish=SPAN-101, French=FREN-101, Chinese=CHNS-101, Sign Language=AMSL-101, etc.)
Students who have successfully met one of the following benchmarks are eligible to take courses from the Supplemental Approved Course List at no cost to the student:
Successful completion of any combination of courses from the list above for a total of 9 college credits with a C or higher in each class.
Successful completion of ENGL-121 or higher and one additional course from the list above with a B or higher in each class.
Successful completion of MATH-138 or higher and one additional course from the list above with a B or higher in each class.
Course and Program Options
JumpStart consists of courses offered in two settings – High School-Based College Credit and HCC Campus-Based College Credit. Students desiring to complete a series of college credits in a specific program of study can refer to these course progressions for a preliminary plan.
High School-Based
College Credit
Take HCC courses, taught by college-qualified HCPSS faculty, while earning college credit and meeting high school graduation requirements.
Access all of HCC’s campus-based resources.
Who? All HCPSS high school students.
Where? Classes are taught at all high schools and vary by location. For more information about offerings at your high school, please contact your high school counselor.
HCC Campus-Based
College Credit
Take one or more college courses at HCC and earn credits toward your college degree. Some credits may also count toward high school graduation.
During 11th and 12th grade, you may be eligible to enroll at HCC as a full-time student. Talk to your school counselor for more information.
Who? All HCPSS students in 11th and 12th grade. Admission for eighth to 10th grade students will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Where? HCC.
The high school-based course options for the current school year are viewable below by clicking on the arrow or school name. Please work directly with your school counselor to determine the best JumpStart Dual Enrollment opportunity for your student.
Atholton
Centennial, Glenelg, Hammond, Marriotts Ridge, Mt. Hebron
Guilford Park High School
Howard High School
Long Reach High School
Oakland Mills High School
Reservoir High School
River Hill High School
Wilde Lake High School
Estimated Costs
Under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future legislation, many courses are offered at no cost to students. Please email jumpstart@hcpss.org for the most up to date approved course list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Program Structure FAQ
Why are these changes in place for 2024-2025 and beyond?
Per the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Legislation, students are required to have access to up to 60 college credits at no cost to the student. By adjusting the JumpStart program beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, the HCPSS Office of Dual Enrollment and Howard Community College are providing tailored access to courses appropriate to all grade levels (9-12), courses with HCPSS equivalents and courses aligned with progress towards an A.A. degree. The courses offered on the initial course list are aligned with HCPSS high school graduation requirements, are demonstrated to have correlation to continued success in college courses, and are appropriate for all grade levels (9-12).
Are there other requirements for students to take the courses listed above?
Some courses require placement testing. Please refer to the HCC course catalog for specific requirements.
My student wants to take a course that’s not on the list above, and they have not met the described benchmarks. What are their options?
Any student can take any course from the list above. If the described benchmarks have not been met, students will be responsible for tuition, course fees and course materials / textbooks for courses they enroll in that are not included.
My student wants to take high school-based dual enrollment course offerings (CC courses) in their high school. Does this list apply to them?
All high school-based dual enrollment course offerings (CC courses) are included on the above list.
My student took AP courses. Do those count towards the baseline requirements?
No. Students must be enrolled in college credit-bearing courses under the JumpStart Dual Enrollment program to meet one of the three described benchmarks.
My student started in JumpStart with one of the approved courses, and they received a grade of an F, W or NA at HCC. What are their options?
Students who receive an F, W (withdrawn with a W) or NA (not attended) in a HCC credit-bearing JumpStart course must email jumpstart@hcpss.org to submit a petition to continue in the program. Petitions will be reviewed by the HCPSS Office of Dual Enrollment and approved on a case-by-case basis. Details on HCC’s grading policy can be found online.
My student took AP, G/T or other high school courses. Do those count towards the baseline requirements?
No. Students must be enrolled in college credit-bearing courses under the JumpStart Dual Enrollment program to meet one of the three described benchmarks.
My student is enrolled in the Early College Program in Cybersecurity and these courses do not align with that program structure. Are they subject to these benchmark requirements?
Due to the intensive support built into the Early College Program in Cybersecurity at the Applications and Research Lab, students enrolled in that program are exempt from needing to meet these benchmarks. Program eligibility requirements still apply in regards to final grades earned in HCC courses.
What about 8th graders?
World Language courses are appropriate for 8th graders. In addition, some math courses are appropriate for certain students. Families should connect with their middle school counselor to determine which courses are appropriate. Courses taken as 8th graders will not factor into the high school GPA, per Policy 8020.
College Credit and Engagement
How does on-campus communication work?
Instructors at Howard Community College will communicate ONLY with the student and through the student’s myHCC email account due to federal regulations. In addition, students should ensure their email address in Synergy is up to date so they receive relevant communications from the HCPSS Office of Dual Enrollment. Students are encouraged to attend orientations and community nights to learn about the opportunities available for support through the program.
How can a student prepare for success in JumpStart?
Students signing up for JumpStart should be prepared for an authentic college experience. Students will be expected to manage their time effectively to complete assignments outside of class, adhere to HCC grading policies, and navigate college-based resources with the support of HCPSS JumpStart staff. HCC courses are shorter in length than traditional HCPSS courses and student workload will reflect the constricted timeframe. In addition, courses may require longer essays, more heavily-weighted exams, and/or long-term projects. Chances for resubmission or late submission of work may not be offered.
What is the requirement for JumpStart students to earn college credit?
Any student may apply to any high school-based JumpStart course. In order to register for dual credit with HCC, students must have at least a 2.0 unweighted GPA; some courses have additional prerequisites. College (dual) credit is awarded upon successful completion of the course.
How do JumpStart courses compare to other courses offered in the high school buildings?
This document shows the differences and similarities between JumpStart courses and high school course offerings such as Advanced Placement or Gifted and Talented.
If my student currently receives special education accommodations in HCPSS, what does that mean for courses taught at HCC?
This document explains the differences in accommodations and how to obtain them on HCC’s campus-based courses.
Am I required to attend HCC after graduation?
While these programs provide a clear path for graduating high school students to complete their associate degree at HCC, the earned college credits can be transferred elsewhere.
Will college credits earned at HCC transfer to a four-year college or university?
HCC credits will transfer to Maryland public four-year colleges and universities and most private and out-of-state colleges and universities. See an HCC transfer advisor to plan which courses will be right for you.
How are courses taken at HCC counted in a high school GPA?
Only courses with HCPSS equivalent credit (Dual Credit) taken at HCC will be reflected on the high school transcript. Courses at HCC must be pre-approved for dual credit to count towards high school graduation requirements. Some courses at HCC will receive additional weight on the HCPSS transcript. The HCC course will be weighted with the highest HCPSS course equivalent quality points. For questions related to weighted equivalents, please consult the HCPSS Course Catalog.
Registering for JumpStart
How do I register for the JumpStart program?
Authorize
Authorize HCPSS to communicate with HCC and acknowledge that you understand the JumpStart requirements each year.
Apply
Apply once to be enrolled as a student at HCC.
Register
Register for your desired courses each semester.
Contact the College and Career Readiness Advisor or your High School counselor to attend a school-based application session. Registration will occur at specific times throughout the school year in alignment with an authentic college experience. For more information, attend an upcoming collaborative hour.
How can I plan for my HCC courses and my high school schedule?
- January / February
- HCC-based courses: Register for all courses at your home high school for the upcoming school year. Howard Community College does not publish their schedule of Fall courses until May, as they follow a college calendar, so we want all students to have a full registration at their high school to ensure progress towards high school graduation requirements.
- HCPSS-based CC courses: Request CC courses when selecting your courses for next year. Course availability varies depending on a number of factors, so please work with your counselor to select the courses you’re interested in
- May:
- HCC-based courses – Parents and students complete the steps outlined on pages 1-3 of this document: https://www.hcpss.org/f/connect/jumpstart-registration-instructions.pdf. All steps must be completed by the student.
- Apply to HCC if you have not yet completed the HCC Application. Instructions are available online. Do not re-apply to HCC if you have already earned college credit in the past.
- Work with your high school counselor and attend HCC pop-in advising for course registration support. View the schedule of upcoming support sessions.
- HCPSS-based CC courses – Nothing. HCC registration will be facilitated in your students class this Fall.
- Summer
- HCC-based courses: Work with your high school counselor o ensure alignment between your HCPSS course schedule and your HCC course schedule!
- HCPSS-based CC courses – Nothing. Additional registration steps will be facilitated via announcements via email from the Office of Dual Enrollment and collaboration with your students teacher.
- Fall
- HCC-based courses: Students will take courses at HCC.
- HCPSS-based courses: Registration steps will be facilitated via announcements via email from the Office of Dual Enrollment and collaboration with your students teacher. Attend an information session for support.
- Winter and Spring
- HCC – based courses: Students can register in November for courses at HCC for the Winter and Spring Semesters. Attend an information session for support.
- HCPSS-Based CC Courses: Students will participate in courses taught in their high school building.
I did all my course requests in Synergy. Am I done with registration?
No. Once you’ve completed the necessary steps in Synergy as outlined in the instructions, you must also register directly with HCC. For HCPSS-based courses, you must complete this registration form. For HCC-based courses, please use the MyHCC planning tool. Both will require your HCC credentials (for help with your HCC login, please email enrollmentsupport@howardcc.edu). To confirm your HCC registration, please follow the steps outlined here.
What opportunities are there to learn more about JumpStart and receive support with the registration process?
The College and Career Readiness Advisor at your high school is hosting monthly JumpStart information sessions – please sign up to attend an upcoming session in your student services office! The HCC and HCPSS JumpStart teams have a series of information sessions and collaborative support sessions scheduled to share program details with the community and provide collaborative support with the registration process. Information session details are available online.
Transportation and Logistics
How does scheduling HCC and HCPSS-based courses work together? What about transportation?
Students will work with their High School Counselor to schedule their courses. Courses at HCC are offered in three modalities – in person, scheduled remote (online courses with dedicated instruction at specific days / times) and flexible online (students must login and complete assigned work on their own within the course due dates). For in-person HCC courses, be sure to allow for travel time (use Google Maps and then add 15 minutes for parking and walking to the HCC building) when planning your courses.Students may NOT attend virtual HCC courses while in their high school building, as it is a liability issue. If you do not have your own transportation to HCC’s campus, please use this year’s transportation schedule as a reference point when building your schedule. Buses will only run one way daily, and are pending bus availability and budget approval.
Dates and Deadlines
My student wants to take a course on HCC’s campus. What dates and deadlines are important?
More information can be found on HCC’s academic calendar. Questions regarding HCC’s Academic Calendar can be directed to jumpstart@howardcc.edu
My student is taking a college credit (CC) eligible course at their high school. What dates and deadlines are important?
The calendar below outlines all the important dates and deadlines for the college credit-eligible courses being taught at HCPSS. Each event lists important details and links to necessary documents. Questions regarding the registration process for these courses can be directed to jumpstart@howardcc.edu.
Contact
For additional questions about JumpStart Dual Enrollment, please email jumpstart@hcpss.org.