Dual Credit Programs Parent Access & Grades

Dual credit students enrolled in the CTE Dual Credit, College in the High School, and Running Start are considered regular college students and are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Parents and caregivers do not have access to their students' grades, class schedule, and other protected information from SPSCC.

SPSCC can only provide this information to a parent or caregiver if the student has given the college permission or the parent can show the named student as a dependent in their care via a Parental Affidavit of Dependency.

Release of Records

Students may give parents or caregivers permission to view this information by submitting the Release of Records form (see link below) in person with a photo ID at the SPSCC One Stop (Olympia Campus, Bldg. 22). They can also email the form with a copy of their photo ID to enroll@spscc.edu.The Release of Records or Parental Affidavit gives parents access through the Enrollment Services Department to:

1. Student Grades
2. Student Account Balances
3. Student Unofficial Transcripts

It does not give the parents access to classroom information (attendance, assignment progress, participation) and does not allow a parent to meet, call or virtual chat with a faculty member or other college staff member without the student present. A parent cannot enroll or drop their student from classes or request exceptions to enrollment and academic policies.

• Students are always welcome to have their parents or caregivers participate in conversations or attend meetings with their faculty or other college staff when the student is present and gives consent to do so. A Release of Records is not required when the student is present with their parents or other adults they have asked to help support them.
• Students are able to request that parents leave a meeting or conversation with college staff and faculty at any time. They are not obligated to have a parent remain if there are portions of the meeting or discussion that the student does not wish the parent to be part of.
• Grade appeals and student complaints must be handled by the student and communicated through the appropriate steps listed on the Student Concerns & Reporting page. A parent or other caregiver cannot file these things on the student's behalf.
• College staff and faculty are able to talk with parents and caregivers about general college policies, guide them through how students use the online tools on the SPSCC website, and answer general questions about the student experience. Please know that if you reach out and are told, "we cannot provide that information to you" it is because you are asking for specific student information that we are not allowed to disclose.  We may be able to provide you with general information or instructions about how you can have your student log into systems to show you the information you are seeking.

Common Questions About Parent Access

Q: I'm under 18, so why don't my parents have access to my records?

A: Dual credit students are considered college students. FERPA protects all college students' records and other information, so SPSCC cannot share that information with your parent without your permission. Your parents do have full access to your records and your teachers at the high school.

Q: If I don't fill out the Release of Records form, can my parents see my grades at SPSCC?

A: Yes, your parents may still see your grades through the high school or on your high school transcript. All information generated or received by the high school is available to your parents through laws that govern release of information to parents in the K-12 system.

Students should always check directly with both their intended college about financial aid and Dual Credit programs.

Financial aid eligibility of students while in Dual Credit Programs

Dual credit students may not apply for federal or direct state financial aid.  CTE Dual Credit and College in the High School are free for students to enroll in at SPSCC.  The only dual credit program that has associated fee and or tuition costs is Running Start.  Students can use 529 plan funds or other personal funds to pay fees or tuition costs.  Families are encouraged to speak with their financial planner or third party funds holder about access to these funds.

Financial aid eligibility of former Dual Credit students

College credits earned through Dual Credit programs may affect the length of time a student can receive state and federal financial aid.  Grades earned in Dual Credit programs will count toward a student’s college GPA and grades will be incorporated into the student’s cumulative high school GPA.

Maximum Timeframe

Many types of financial aid have a maximum timeframe to receive aid; the limitation may vary but is generally either 125-150% of the baccalaureate program length.

Federal Student Loan Amounts

The federal student loan programs permit higher awards for second- and third-year college students than for first-year students.  College in the High School students who earn enough college credits to achieve third-year college status by the end of their high school experience may qualify for the higher loan amounts right out of high school.

The college is responsible for providing accommodations for students as required by the American Disabilities Act (ADA).  However, it is important to note that these accommodations are not necessarily the same as the Section 504 and services outlined in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) as required for the Districts and high schools as required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Students needing accommodations for their college level Dual Credit programs courses offered by South Puget Sound Community College will go through an Intake process with the SPSCC Access Services office.  This includes identifying yourself as a student with a documented disability and providing formal written documentation of your disability.  Bringing your current 504 or IEP plan from the high school can be useful in identifying possible accommodations for your college classes but these plans will not move over to the college as they are written for the high school.

Services must be requested every quarter the student is enrolled and should be requested as early as possible following course registration.

More detailed information and links to the Intake form and scheduling appointments are available on the Disability & Access Services webpage.

• SPSCC transcripts will reflect the grades students earn in CTE Dual Credit, College in the High School, and Running Start classes. Transcription must be requested for CTE Dual credit courses. Transcription is automatic for College in the High School and Running Start courses.
• Transcripts are permanent. Grades cannot be erased or excluded from future course work at SPSCC or at other higher education institutions.
• Students will likely need copies of SPSCC transcripts for applications that require proof of college education attainment: most other higher education institutions and some employment opportunities.

Ordering Transcripts

Students can request transcripts after they complete at least one dual credit course and grades have been posted.

• Students can print unofficial transcripts from ctcLink (login with ctcLink ID and password required). They can also bring a photo ID to the One Stop (Olympia Campus, Bldg. 22, or Lacey Campus Bldg. 1) to have them printed.
• Students can order official transcripts online via the National Student Clearinghouse. Note: An SPSCC ctcLink ID number is required.

Quarterly GPA (Academic Standards): All SPSCC students are required to maintain a quarterly 2.0 GPA. If a student falls below a 2.0 quarterly GPA, they are placed on Academic Standards: Academic Warning, Probation, Dismissal. This includes all College in the High School and Running Start students and only applies to credits earned at South Puget Sound Community College.

Graduation GPA: All SPSCC students applying for a degree must have a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA. If they have less than a 2.0 cumulative GPA then they can continue to take college classes to raise their GPA.  Once the GPA minimum is met, they can apply for graduation. Any dual credit courses from other colleges that are being used for credit completion will be brought in in for GPA calculation as well. If the GPA value of external courses brings the student up to a 2.0 GPA then they will be able to graduate at the time of the evaluation of that external credit.

Residency is not required for Dual Credit program students unless they enroll in tuition-based credit outside of the dual credit program funding limits. At the time a dual credit student owes tuition, they must establish residency in order to be assessed at the appropriate tuition rate. Please see the Residency webpage for more detailed information on how to establish residency for tuition purposes.

If you have taken any classes at SPSCC outside of the dual credit programs, those grades are not automatically sent back to your high school. Because you self pay, you must request that we send your grades. Self Pay classes include:

• Summer Quarter classes that you paid out of pocket for 
• AMATH 097, AMATH 141, CMATH 107 and CMATH 146 
• Classes you took over your funding limits for the quarter and paid out of pocket for

Students need to fill out the Self Pay Grades Request Form. Requests will be processed within 1 week of grades being posted or of the request. You may not see the classes show up on your high school transcript until after the new academic year since high schools are closed over the summer.