The Center for College and Career Transitions focuses on serving high school students and assisting them in making successful transitions after high school. Articulation agreements between Madison College and school districts allow students to enroll in and complete college courses while still in high school.

These courses fulfill high school graduation requirements and align high school and post-secondary curricula to create a sequence of courses which provide for a seamless transition to postsecondary education. The early college options available for high school students are known as the Early College Achievement Program (ECAP) at Madison College.

Whether their next steps are continued education or moving directly to the workforce, our goal is to help students prepare and plan for their future. The ECAP program at Madison College offers two types of articulation, Dual Credit and Advanced Standing. Educators interested in offering articulated courses should read the requirements below and contact us for more information.

counselor and student in conversation
High School Guidance Counselor Resources

Dual Credit

Dual Credit allows a student to receive technical college credit upon successful completion of a college-level course taken in their high school. The college-level course is delivered at the high school with the same competencies, assignments, grading policies, textbooks, and software (if applicable). In order to deliver Dual Credit courses at the high school, the following must be met.

  • District high school teachers must complete the part-time faculty online job application and submit required documentation. The dual credit classes are taught by high school teachers who have met our part-time teacher standards as required by the Higher Learning Commission accrediting agency.
  • Dual credit instructors must attend content-specific training session and be coached how to teach our course. Additional meetings may be held throughout the academic year in which high school staff are required to attend.
  • A contract and Memorandum of Understanding between Madison College and the high school must be filed.
  • High school curriculum needs to be submitted to college faculty for review prior to beginning the class
  • High school students must be enrolled and registered for the Madison College class.
  • Students must be graded on a college scale (A, AB, B, BC, C, or AU (audit)) and only students who receive the C or better on the college grading scale will receive college credits.
  • Dual credit courses are renewed on an annual basis; if the teacher changes, the agreement is void.
  • Many classes are currently available, including Elementary Algebra, College Success, College and Career Readiness, Computer Hardware Essentials, Accounting, business technology courses (Excel, Access, etc.), Welding, Medical Terminology, Machine Tool 1A, Principles of Animal Management, and Woodworking.

Advanced Standing

Advanced Standing allows a student to receive retroactive credit at a Wisconsin technical college upon completion of the course according to specific conditions (i.e. grades, attendance requirements, etc.) AND enrollment in a technical college within 27 months of high school graduation. It also requires a valid agreement between Madison College and the high school.

  • Advanced standing instructors must submit a curriculum worksheet matching your high school curriculum with Madison College (must match 80% of the competencies).
  • Cover sheet must be signed and submitted with the curriculum worksheet.
  • Instructors must attend various meetings throughout the school year.
  • Advanced standing agreements are renewable on an annual basis.