2025-26 Audit and Reporting Guidelines Format Final- Harsha

ADMISSIONS

STATE BOARD POLICY 8.2  ● Academic and Technical students must meet one of the following criteria for admissions: o ● The completion of at least one unit less than the minimum acceptable high school units as prescribed by law, i.e. if the state requires 21 high school units to graduate, a student can be admitted into a community/junior college with 20 high school units; or, o ● A High School Equivalency Diploma (HSE) or Certificate; or, , o A High school diploma; or o ● AMississippi Occupational School Diploma; or o ● A state-approved Career Certificate from a Mississippi Community College; or o ● An official transcript from an accredited college or university.  ● Career students must meet one of the following criteria for admissions: o ● The completion of at least one unit less than the minimum acceptable high school units as prescribed by law, i.e. if the state requires 21 high school units to graduate, a student can be admitted into a community college with 20 high school units; or, o ● A High School Equivalency Diploma or Certificate ; or, o A High school diploma; or o ● AMississippi Occupational School Diploma; or o ● A state-approved 30 credit hour Career Certificate from a Mississippi Community or Junior College; or ● Ability to Benefit score report bearing the official qualifying score results from a U.S. Dept. of Education approved ATB test provider. The most recent list of approved Ability to Benefit exams are found in the November 11, 2020 Department of Ed, Federal Student Aid webpage: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/11/09/2020-24795/list-of-approved ability-to-benefit-atb- https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/11/09/2020-24795/list-of-approved-ability o -to-benefit-atb- tests-and-passing-scores  ● A student not meeting the requirements stated above may be admitted as non-degree seeking under the following conditions: o ● Meets the requirement to enroll in dual enrollment/dual credit Academic, Career or Technical Classes; or; o ● Meets the requirements to enroll in an approved career-pathway program that integrates Adult Basic Education (ABE) with skills training (Career or Technical).

i. I. The Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act allows a student who did not receive a high school diploma (or its recognized equivalent), or who did not complete a secondary school education in a home-school setting, to be eligible for Title IV financial aid. This can now be done through a combination of ATB alternatives and enrollment in an eligible career pathway program (as dete rmined by the Title IV eligible institutions’ staff). ii. II. The Dear Colleague of Letter dated May 22, 2015 on Tab12B, states “…the student must be enrolled in an “eligible career pathway program,” as defined in section 484(d)(2) of the HEA.” See Recent Legislation section for the complete letter.

Tab 02 – Enrollment Audit and Reporting Guidelines

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Updated 10/01/2023