HARRISBURG – Today, Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47) and Reps. Aaron Bernstine (R-8), Jim Marshall (R-14), and Robert Matzie (D-16), announced $185,060 in Dual Credit Grant Program funds was awarded by the Department of Education to various school districts in Beaver and Lawrence counties to help encourage students to get a jumpstart on their college education.
“It is important for our students to have access to every advantage they can to better their academic future,” said Vogel. “These investments will help our school districts continue to cultivate relationships with our local colleges as well as allow them to offer beneficial courses to students – giving them a head start with their college course requirements.”
The following school districts will benefit from the Dual Credit Grant Program funds:
- Big Beaver Falls Area School District, $75,000.
- Mohawk Area School District, $75,000.
- Rochester Area School District, $35,060.
“As we continue to examine how we can put our students in the best possible position to succeed, I am pleased to see this investment dedicated to them so our scholars can achieve their educational goals,” said Marshall.
“This is extremely beneficial to our students because dual enrollment allows high school students to take college courses and earn college credit in both academic and career subjects,” said Bernstine. “If they continue to pursue post-secondary education, the students will save tuition money. Colleges and universities often grant college credit to students who successfully complete dual enrollment courses. Unlike Advanced Placement (AP) classes, which award credit based on a test, dual enrollment courses award credit as long as the student passes the class.”
“Dual credit programs are one of the most successful educational initiatives we have in Pennsylvania,” said Matzie. “They allow high school students to get a jump start on the next chapter of their lives by earning post-secondary credits while still in high school. This not only helps with the cost of continued education for those students, but it gives them the opportunity to tangibly start on their career path while still in high school.”
This grant funding will allow school districts to create or expand dual credit opportunities for all secondary school students; and all students enrolled in the school entity, which includes students experiencing educational instability, students enrolled in career and technical education programs, low-income students, and historically underserved student groups.
Effective beginning with the 2022-23 school year, Pennsylvania law requires school entities to enter into agreements with institutions of higher education (IHE) to allow students to earn college-level credit prior to graduating high school. This grant funding is intended to support school entities with meeting these requirements and to increase access to dual credit coursework statewide.
CONTACT: Abby Chiumento, 717-787-3076 (Vogel)
Rick Leiner (Bernstein)
Nate Temple (Marshall)
Liane Leshne, 978-549-1868 (Matzie)