Most high schools have a relationship with colleges that allow students to earn credits toward a college degree. But relatively few low-income and minority students participate.
That’s part of the reason President Barack Obama launched an experimental initiative that would allow high school students to pay for the courses with Pell grants, the Washington Post reports.
The administration has partnered with 44 colleges and will provide approximately $20 million in Pell grants to an estimated 10,000 high school students. The initiative officially launches in the fall and continues for three years.
“With this pilot program we are one step closer to making college more affordable and accessible to all students,” U.S. Education Secretary John King told reporters in a conference call.
He said the department wants to see how allowing Pell grants for dual enrollment will affect long-term academic outcomes.
According to the Post, Under Secretary of Education Ted Mitchell said the administration is also interested in seeing if removing the financial barrier to dual-enrollment programs for low-income students leads to higher participation rates and completion of four-year degrees.
SOURCE: Washington Post | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty
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Obama Initiative Offers Pell Grants To High School Students Enrolled In College Courses was originally published on newsone.com
