Some of the most prestigious higher institutions in the country are providing dual-credit instruction at no cost to juniors and seniors in the Indianapolis Public Schools district.

Hoosier high schoolers will have the option to finish dual credit credentials for free this summer, through a pandemic-relief funded program being offered for the second year.

One dual-credit high school in Fort Wayne is helping a large group of English Learners, mostly Burmese refugees, reach the college finish line.

The changes said a high school teacher teaching a dual credit class must have a master's degree that includes 18 credit hours in the subject they teach.

Rep. Wendy McNamara is working to find a way for high school teachers who currently teach dual-credit courses to meet new accreditation requirements created by the Higher Learning Commission, an independent organization that accredits colleges and universities.

Indiana will request a five year extension for when high school teachers are required to hold a master's degree and additional college credits so they can teach dual credit courses.

A panel of educators, lawmakers and higher education officials met Tuesday to discuss how to deal with an impending policy change that one K-12 leader said will "decimate" the dual credit options for high school students.