Washington's Education Research and Data Center released its 2026 annual report on dual credit programs, finding that cumulative credits earned in high school correlate with higher rates of postsecondary completion.
Within six years of high school graduation, 41 percent of students in the 2015-2019 cohorts obtained a postsecondary credential regardless of dual credit participation. Students earning more than three K-12 credits through dual credit courses saw rates rise to 43 percent, reaching 94 percent for those with more than 18 cumulative credits.
Over a 10-year period, average cumulative K-12 credits earned through dual credit options increased from 4.7 to 7.7. Enrollment in Running Start summer terms has grown substantially since 2022, and most credits earned through dual credit contained academic rather than vocational content.
The center released a new dashboard displaying outcomes for students who experienced foster care, homelessness, and institutional education, enabling comparison on metrics including high school completion and postsecondary degree attainment.
Two new research grants were announced: one using artificial intelligence to extract and compare course-level data across school districts statewide, and another evaluating which dual credit programs are most effective for which students to expand equitable access.