OCPS extends dual enrollment partnership with Valencia College

Orange County Public School’s dual enrollment agreement with Valencia College will continue for another year. 

The program, called Tech Express, allows OCPS students to take Valencia College classes free of charge. 

In the agreement, OCPS will pay $71.98 per credit, potentially paying $2 million in tuition fees. This does not include the cost to pay Valencia instructors located on OCPS campuses. Valencia will pay $500,000 to fund college and career counselors that only serve OCPS students, as well as other college preparatory programs. 

The agreement was approved by the School Board for the 2016-17 school year.
An internship program for students with disabilities was also approved by the School Board. As a part of high school curriculum, students with disabilities participate in Community Based Vocational Education. Publix Super Markets, a partner of CBVE, offers unpaid internships for students with disabilities. The idea of the program is to allow students to gain skills that will help them become employed in the future.