Like many rural Americans, the people living in Hazard, Kentucky, are place-bound, their educational choices constrained by geography as much as by cost. With family and jobs tying them to the region, and no local four-year option, many settle for a two-year degree, or skip college altogether.

Spurred by concerns that low college attainment is holding back this rural southeastern swath of the state, Kentucky is exploring ways to bring baccalaureate degrees to the region.

Dual enrollment has become a major part of the school day in American high schools. National research shows that about 88 percent of high schools offer dual enrollment.

This episode of Future U takes a deep dive into the world of dual enrollment: its rapid growth, potential benefits, and emerging challenges. John Fink of the Community College Research Center joins the conversation to discuss various dual enrollment arrangements, concerns around course quality and rigor, and the implications for high school and college experiences.

President Joe Biden released details this week on his new student loan debt forgiveness plan, which would affect nearly 30 million people and target groups facing hardships repaying their loans.

Biden administration officials say they could begin handing out some of the debt relief—including the cancellation of up to $20,000 in interest—as soon as this fall if the new effort moves forward after the required, months-long comment period.