State and Institutional Pillars That Support Dual Enrollment Innovation - Lessons From the Increasing College Access Network Project in Minnesota

Oct 15, 2026

Launched in 2023, Jobs for the Future’s Increasing College Access Network (ICAN) identifies state and institutional policies and practices that advance innovation in dual enrollment courses. The brief explains how ICAN integrates social-emotional learning (SEL) into online math and English instruction to improve engagement, belonging, and persistence. It highlights training for community and technical college partners, participation by students across Minnesota schools, and evaluation of the model’s implementation and impact.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

About the Increasing College Access Network (ICAN)

State and Institutional Pillars That Support Dual Enrollment Innovation

A Two-Year Approach Focused on SEL in Online Courses

AUG U ST 2 0 2 5 State and Institutional Pillars That Support Dual Enrollment Innovation Lessons From the Increasing College Access Network Project in Minnesota AT A GLANCE Launched in 2023, JFF’s Increasing College Access Network (ICAN) project has identified strong state and institutional policies and practices that can advance innovation in dual enrollment courses. AUTHORS Leah Eggers Director, JFF Anna O’ Connor Senior Director, JFF Acknowledgments JFF would like to extend our appreciation to our grant partners for their support in designing and executing the ICAN model and sharing their insights about the dual enrollment ecosystem in Minnesota. Thank you to Alexandria Technical and Community College, Distance Minnesota, the Greater Twin Cities United Way, Minnesota West Community and Technical College, Northland Community and Technical College, People for PSEO, and The Learning Accelerator. About Jobs for the Future Jobs for the Future (JFF) transforms U. S. education and workforce systems to drive economic success for people, businesses, and [communities.](communities. www.jff.org)[ ](communities. www.jff.org)[www.jff.org](communities. www.jff.org) About the Increasing College Access Network Launched in 2023, ICAN integrates social-emotional learning (SEL) into the instruction of online math and English dual enrollment courses to improve educational outcomes for high school students. This strategy improves student engagement with instructors and peers and helps young people develop a stronger sense of belonging and navigate challenges with greater confidence. Instructors embed a set of SEL-related activities, routines, and structures into their coursework to give students opportunities to build a growth mindset and develop problem-solving, relationshipbuilding, and self-management skills. Implementing SEL instruction into online dual enrollment courses helps students strengthen the skills they need to persevere and succeed in online course-taking and build meaningful connections with peers and instructors—all of which help them develop strong academic and collegiate identities. Instructors and leaders from Alexandria Technical and Community College and Minnesota West Community and Technical College received training and resources to deliver ICAN courses. To date, more than 750 students from 58 high schools across Minnesota have participated in ICAN courses. Enrolling students from multiple schools into each course section enabled students from small rural high schools without dual enrollment course offerings to access the coursework and benefit from engagement with students from outside their school. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Innovation and Research (EIR) program, ICAN is spearheaded by Jobs for the Future (JFF) in partnership with Greater Twin Cities United Way (GTCUW) and The Learning Accelerator (TLA). The American Institutes for Research (AIR) is evaluating the implementation and impact of this dual enrollment model. STATE AND INSTITUTIONAL PILLARS THAT SUPPORT DUAL ENROLLMENT INNOVATION 2 Introduction Dual enrollment has proved to be a powerful strategy for expanding college opportunity for all students, especially those who facing barriers that limit their access to postsecondary education. Extensive evidence shows that dual enrollment has wide-ranging benefits for students, high schools, colleges, and states. The model helps save time and money, and it accelerates degree completion and preparation for the workforce. JFF’s Pathways to Prosperity framework includes dual enrollment as a core element of high-quality pathways. Yet, challenges remain. Long distances between K-12 schools and their higher education partners, limited access to flexible and engaging learning environments, and the complexities of navigating college systems, funding sources, and related structures hinder the full impact of dual enrollment programs. The Increasing College A

FAQs

What is ICAN, and when was it launched?

ICAN was launched in 2023. It is a dual enrollment course innovation project described in the brief.

How does ICAN improve online dual enrollment experiences?

ICAN integrates social-emotional learning (SEL) strategies into online math and English course design, supporting engagement, belonging, and student confidence.

Which organizations help deliver and evaluate ICAN?

Jobs for the Future spearheads ICAN in partnership with the Greater Twin Cities United Way and The Learning Accelerator, and the American Institutes for Research evaluates implementation and impact.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Maya Linwood