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For Immediate Release
August 5, 2005
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White: School
Districts Have Until Sept. 15 to Apply for "Dual
Enrollment"
Allows students to
earn college credits while in high school
Harrisburg – School districts have until Sept.15
to apply for funding under a new program that will
put college within reach of more students by
allowing them to earn college credits while in high
school, state Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21) said today.
The program will be run through partnerships
between school districts and eligible postsecondary
institutions, said White. It is available to high
school juniors and seniors, and vocational-technical
students.
"The new dual enrollment initiative means
students can begin earning college credits earlier,
when they are less expensive. With the high cost of
tuition today, anything that can help families save
money is a real plus," said White. "Also, it
exposes students to the challenging rigors of higher
education, while still in the supportive environment
of high school. That means they'll be better
prepared, and colleges can save money by spending
less on remedial education."
The General Assembly passed a 2005-06 state
budget that includes $5 million for the program –
with up to $400,000 reserved for extra assistance
for low-income students. School districts can use
grants will be used to pay for tuition, books, fees,
and transportation associated with the program.
Districts will be required to create a dual
enrollment committee, adopt written agreements with
their postsecondary partners, and submit annual
reports to the state Department of Education.
A grant application and more information about
the dual enrollment program can be found at
www.project720.org under "Dual Enrollment."
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