Districts get dual enrollment grant money
Five local school districts are among 230 statewide to receive funds to help students earn college credits while they are still attending high school. The districts will share in $5 million in dual enrollment funding, announced by Gov. Ed Rendell this week as part of his Project 720 high school reform initiative.
Locally, Albert Gallatin Area, Connellsville Area, Laurel Highlands, Southeastern Greene, and Uniontown Area school districts received funding.
Albert Gallatin Area received $114,830.52 for a program with Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus that will allow high school students, beginning in the second semester of their junior year, to take courses at the campus.
Judy Psenicska, director of curriculum, said meetings will be held with students and parents to explain the program, which will allow the students to take the courses and receive both college and high school credits for very little cost.
She said a scholarship program at Penn State Fayette will cover half of the tuition for each student who enrolls, while the state funding will pay for the remainder of the tuition costs, any fees and materials costs.
Guidance counselors and campus mentors will work with students to ensure that they adjust to the collegiate experience, according to Psenicska.
“We want all students that can be successful in college to participate,” Psenicska said, noting that two students are enrolled in courses at Penn State Fayette this semester.
Students will also receive the benefits of becoming a Penn State student and will have access to all the campus facilities and activities.
“We think this program is outstanding and we hope it’s a success,” she said, noting that the district has plans to expand the program to other institutions based on how the students respond this year.
A meeting with 11th- and 12th-grade students and parents interested in dual enrollment has been scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. at the high school auditorium to explain the program.
Among other local districts, Connellsville Area received $21,827.94, Laurel Highlands received $36,965.56, Southeastern Greene received $36,181.85, and Uniontown Area received $22,416.22.
Dr. Gary Brain, director of curriculum at Laurel Highlands, said the funds will be used for AP courses that provide students with credits to California University of Pennsylvania, along with courses at Penn State Fayette, Laurel Business Institute, and a computer course through the University of Pittsburgh taught at Laurel Highlands High School.
“This is a really nice opportunity for the students,” he said. “They can leave here with 12, 15, 18, or even 21 college credits.”
Dr. Charles Machesky, Uniontown Area superintendent, said the district will work with Penn State Fayette, Cal U and LBI to offer courses for interested high school students.
“We’re very fortunate and thankful that we’ve been able to receive some funding,” he said.
“I think it’s a worthwhile effort and it will help some of our students.”
Dr. Gregory Gray, Penn State Fayette chancellor, said high school students who participate in the program will be given a “100 percent collegiate experience.”
“They will take classes scheduled at Penn State with regular college students taught by regular faculty and get Penn State credits that can transfer to any place in the world, though we hope they will ultimately come to Penn State,” he said.
Connellsville Area and Southeastern Greene school districts have also entered into agreements with Penn State Fayette to accept their students, Gray said.
Gray said students will be given some extra advisement and help through the different Penn State processes, but they will be treated just like every other student on campus.
Students are admitted to the Penn State program if they have met certain academic requirements and have been recommended by administrators at their respective high school, he said.
He said Penn State’s policy to provide 50 percent scholarships to high school students along with state funds from Project 720 will offer a savings to parents.
“Their son or daughter could go off to college with a half-semester or full semester of credits paid for,” Gray said. “We try so hard to enhance the post-secondary participation rate here in Fayette County and we’ve made some inroads, but this program should be a big help.”
Yasmin Brown, career advisor, said the credits earned at Penn State will also help students meet high school graduation requirements.
Gray said an information session for students wishing to participate in the program and their parents will be held Nov. 29 at 5 p.m. at the Community Center.
Rendell said in a release that the funding guarantees that Pennsylvania has a highly educated and skilled workforce.
“Through dual enrollment, students not only will learn more, they will gain an important competitive advantage that will help them throughout their careers,” he said.