EARLY COLLEGE PROGRAM

The Daley College Early College Program allows high school students to take college-level courses FREE OF CHARGE. Students can earn college credits reducing the overall time and cost of earning a college degree.

Early College

The Early College program offers two ways for students to earn college credit: dual credit and dual enrollment. High school juniors and seniors who are interested in either program should start by discussing available options with their school counselor.

Dual Credit 

Daley College has a partnerships with various Chicago Public Schools to offer college credit courses available to juniors and seniors at their high school. Students may take college classes taught by high school instructors, credentialed by Daley College, in the fall and spring semesters. Students may earn both college and high school credit without any adjustment to their high school schedule. 

Dual Enrollment 

High school juniors and seniors can enroll at Daley College and take on-campus, remote or online college courses in the fall, spring and summer terms. Students are able to choose from courses such as English, Math, Foreign Languages and Science courses, as well as follow prescribed career pathways, which are designed to prepare them for work in a high-demand industry. Career pathway areas of study include Business, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Early Child Development and Advanced Manufacturing. Additionally, students coming from our STEM partner schools are able to enroll in Associate Degree STEM pathways such as Computer Science, IT, Networking, Pre-Health, Pre-Engineering, Wed Development, and Business.

Eligibility - Dual Enrollment and Dual Credit  
  1. Students must have at least 2.5 GPA AND at least a 90% attendance rate in high school to participate.
  2. Students must be a Chicago resident.
  3. Students must be 16 and at least a junior or senior in high school.
  4. Any student younger than 16 and/or not yet a high school junior must work with the Daley College Early College Program to obtain permission from the Daley College President to participate.
  5. Students may need to meet pre-requisites for a college course and can do so by submitting approved ACT and/or SAT scores and/or taking CCC Placement Tests. Before taking any placement test, please review the math ALEKS and the English Read to Write (RTW) Test Prep Packets and make sure you prepare. (see Placement Test info below)
  6. Students must work with the Early College Program Advisor in order to be enrolled in college courses.
Dual Enrollment Registration Process 
 
We are excited to assist you with the process of applying and enrolling for Dual Enrollment classes at Daley College! Below are the steps and the links to resources that students will need to complete in order to proceed: 
  1. Apply to the Early College Program at Daley College. 
  2. Obtain a copy of your High School Transcripts and picture ID from your high school counselor.
  3. Obtain a copy your ACT/SAT test scores or take the CCC Placement Test (ALEKS and/or RTW). 
  4. Complete the Permission Form and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Disclosure Form making sure to have a parent sign
  5. Submit documents to earlycollegeda@ccc.edu 
    • High school picture ID
    • High school Transcripts
    • ACT/SAT scores (CCC Placement scores can be retrieved from our system)
    • Signed Early College Permission and SAP forms
  6. Once everything has been submitted and reviewed, students will be enrolled into any eligible and available course.
Dual Credit Registration Process 
Partner high school counselors will work directly with the Sr Coordinator to enroll students in the Early College Program. Counselors will need to:
  1. Verify credentialed DC Instructors and class builds each semester, including days/times and meeting minutes for each class.
  2. Verify all class rosters of eligible students and make sure that all DC students have:
    • Met pre-requisites for classes, 
    • Have a CCC ID number and
    • Have turned in an Early College packet containing SIGNED Early College Permission and SAP forms, HS Transcripts and picture ID
  3. Submit all paperwork including class builds, class rosters and EC packets to each partner’s SharePoint folder.  Please contact earlycollegeda@ccc.edu for a new or non-working SharePoint link.
  4. Work with the Daley team​ to arrange any Info Sessions, application and/or registration seminars or any other assistance needed.  Dual Credit students are encouraged to attend an Info Sessions.
Placement Test General Information d
 
Since the placement test is very important step in the process, we strongly encourage students to review placement test preparation materials, accessible through the links to the right under Other Resources. Daley College also offers free placement test preparation services through our Testing and Tutoring Centers. Proper preparation is a great way to make sure you do your best!
 
New and returning students without valid placement scores or passing grades are required to take the placement test before registering. The ALEKS math placement test determines where a student should begin Math classes and/or classes that require specific math-level eligibility. The Reading to Write (RTW) Placement test determines where a student should begin English classes and/or courses that require English-level eligibility. Students should contact their high school counselor to setup a proctored ALEKS and/or RTW test. Students may also test at Daley College by setting up an appointment with the Daley College Testing Department.  

The ALEKS math placement test can be taken up to five times in a calendar year and is untimed, whereas the Read to Write placement test can only be taken once per semester.

 

EARLY COLLEGE PLACEMENT/TEST SCORES RUBRIC

CCC Placement Test

EXAM

SCORE

PLACEMENT LEVEL

Read to Write (RTW)

6

English 101

Read to Write (RTW)

5

Courses that do not require English 101 pre-requisite

ALEKS

46+

Math 118, Math 121, Math 125 or Math 140

ALEKS

61+

Math 141

ALEKS

76+

Math 207

ACT & SAT English Placement Scores

EXAM

SCORE

PLACEMENT LEVEL

ACT English Score

21+

English 101

SAT EBRW Score

480+

English 101

ACT Math Score

21-23

Math 118, Math 121, Math 124 and Math 140

ACT Math Score

24+

Math 141, Math 204 and Math 207

SAT Math Score

530-570

Math 118, Math 121, Math 124 and Math 140

SAT Math Score

580+

Math 141, Math 204 and Math 207

 
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities  
Test accommodations for students with disabilities are given in a manner consistent with the applicable requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. This includes offering and administering the test in a time, place, and manner that is accessible, including the provision of appropriate modifications and auxiliary aids and services.
 
To receive placement testing accommodations please contact the Daley Access Center (DAC) at Richard J. Daley College DAC Center.