---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 2164c"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "2164c"
heading: "Authorization of dual or concurrent enrollment programs for students of Defense Dependent Schools"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/2164c"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part III — Training and Education"
  - "Chapter 108 — Department of Defense Schools"
---

# §2164c. Authorization of dual or concurrent enrollment programs for students of Defense Dependent Schools

- (a) **In General.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense, acting through the Director of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense Education Activity, may—
  - (1) enter into arrangements with institutions of higher education to provide students of Defense [Dependent](/usc/10/1072.md?p=2) Schools with access to postsecondary course credit through dual or concurrent enrollment [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1); and
  - (2) subject to [subsection (b)](#b), provide financial assistance to students to cover the costs associated with such [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1).
- (b) **Amount of Assistance.—** The amount of financial assistance provided to an individual student under [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2) may not exceed $1,500 per school year.
- (c) **Credit Transferability.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense shall, to the greatest extent practicable, ensure that the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense Education Activity, in facilitating dual or concurrent enrollment [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) with institutions of higher education under this section—
  - (1) establishes articulation or credit transfer agreements that promote the transferability of academic credits earned by participating students; and
  - (2) prioritizes agreements with institutions that offer broad acceptance of such credits across degree [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1).
- (d) **Institutional Integrity.—** In entering into contracts or other agreements with institutions of higher education for purposes of dual or concurrent enrollment [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense shall ensure that such institutions have a [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) participation agreement in effect under section 487 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ([20 U.S.C. 1094](/usc/20/1094.md)) and are not provisionally or temporarily certified.
- (e) **Preparation and Informing Families and Educators.—** In implementing dual or concurrent enrollment [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense, acting through the Director of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense Education Activity, shall do the following:
  - (1) **Course sequence alignment.—** Design a sequence of courses for such [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) to match the academic content [standards](/usc/10/3011.md?p=3) and level of rigor of the corresponding postsecondary courses, in consultation and collaboration with—
    - (A) educators from Defense [Dependent](/usc/10/1072.md?p=2) Schools serving the [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8)-connected community;
    - (B) faculty members from institutions of higher education offering dual or concurrent enrollment [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1); and
    - (C) the school advisory committee (or the equivalent advisory body) of each Defense [Dependent](/usc/10/1072.md?p=2) School.
  - (2) **Outreach and information dissemination.—** Establish outreach and awareness efforts targeted toward elementary and secondary school students, particularly those in the middle [grades](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) and their families, educators, school counselors, and principals, to provide—
    - (A) general information regarding the availability and benefits of dual or concurrent enrollment [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1);
    - (B) guidance on eligibility requirements, academic expectations, and necessary preparatory coursework for such [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1); and
    - (C) resources to support informed decisionmaking and successful student participation in such [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1).
- (f) **Teacher Certification.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense shall ensure that all dual or concurrent enrollment courses facilitated by the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense Education Activity are taught by—
  - (1) a postsecondary faculty member who—
    - (A) is employed by a two-year or four-year [institution of higher education](/usc/10/2199.md?p=2) (which may include a community college); and
    - (B) meets the applicable postsecondary accreditation [standards](/usc/10/3011.md?p=3) for instructional staff; or
  - (2) a classroom teacher employed by a local educational [agency](/usc/10/3451.md?p=3) or by the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense Education Activity, who—
    - (A) is qualified to teach in accordance with applicable law; and
    - (B) has received [training](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) or certification to deliver the dual or concurrent enrollment course curriculum in alignment with the [standards](/usc/10/3011.md?p=3) of the partnering [institution of higher education](/usc/10/2199.md?p=2).
- (g) **Additional Requirements.—** In carrying out this section, the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense shall consult with the School Advisory Committees (or the equivalent advisory bodies) and Parent Teacher Associations of participating Defense [Dependent](/usc/10/1072.md?p=2) Schools.
- (h) **Annual Briefings.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, and annually thereafter for four years, the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense shall provide to the [appropriate congressional committees](/usc/10/301.md?p=1) a briefing on the status of the dual and concurrent enrollment [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) authorized under this section.
  - (2) **Elements.—** Each briefing under [paragraph (1)](#h-1) shall include, with respect to the period covered by the briefing—
    - (A) the number of students who participated in dual or concurrent enrollment [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) authorized under this section;
    - (B) the total cost to the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense of providing such [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1); and
    - (C) an explanation of—
      - (i) whether and to what extent such [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) consisted of online classes or in-[person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) instruction; and
      - (ii) the subjects taught in postsecondary classes taken by students participating in such [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1).
  - (3) **Disaggregation.—** The information required under [paragraph (2)](#h-2) shall be set forth separately for each region served by the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense Education Activity.
- (i) **Definitions.—** In this section:
  - (1) The term “[appropriate congressional committees](/usc/10/301.md?p=1)” means—
    - (A) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and
    - (B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives.
  - (2) The term “Defense [Dependent](/usc/10/1072.md?p=2) School” means—
    - (A) a school operated under the Defense [Dependents](/usc/10/1072.md?p=2)’ Education System, as authorized under the Defense [Dependents](/usc/10/1072.md?p=2)’ Education Act of 1978 ([20 U.S.C. 921](/usc/20/921.md) et seq.); or
    - (B) a [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense domestic [dependent](/usc/10/1072.md?p=2) elementary and secondary school, as authorized under [section 2164 of this title](/usc/10/2164.md).
  - (3) The term “dual or concurrent enrollment [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1)” means a [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) offered by an arrangement between the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense Education Activity and an [institution of higher education](/usc/10/2199.md?p=2) and through which a student enrolled in a Defense [Dependent](/usc/10/1072.md?p=2) School who has not graduated from high school with a [regular](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-12) high school diploma is able to enroll in one or more postsecondary courses and earn credit that applies—
    - (A) toward completion of a postsecondary degree or recognized educational credential as described in the Higher Education Act of 1965 ([20 U.S.C. 1001](/usc/20/1001.md) et seq.); and
    - (B) toward completion of high school.
  - (4) The term “[institution of higher education](/usc/10/2199.md?p=2)” has the meaning given that term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ([20 U.S.C. 1002](/usc/20/1002.md)).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title V, § 584, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 889.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The date of the enactment of this section, referred to in subsec. (h)(1), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 119–60, which was approved Dec. 18, 2025.

The Defense Dependents’ Education Act of 1978, referred to in subsec. (i)(2)(A), is title XIV of Pub. L. 95–561, Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2365, which is classified principally to chapter 25A (§ 921 et seq.) of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 921 of Title 20 and Tables.

The Higher Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (i)(3)(A), is Pub. L. 89–329, Nov. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 1219, which is classified generally to chapter 28 (§ 1001 et seq.) of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1001 of Title 20 and Tables.