Beginning in the 2016-17 school year, this new statewide initiative provides funds for dual credit scholarships for all 173 school districts. For the first time in the state’s history, the scholarship funds will pay for dual credit opportunities for Kentucky high schoolers at no cost to the student for approved courses.
Dual credit allows high school students to receive both high school and postsecondary credit at the same time for a course that is approved. The course may be delivered at the high school or postsecondary school. The new program will be administered by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority. The Kentucky Dual Credit Scholarship Program allocates $15 million over the next two school years to all school districts across Kentucky for any junior or senior to earn dual credit for up to two courses, at no cost to the student.
Local school districts will apply for the scholarships for each eligible student and course. An amount has been reserved for each high school for dual credit scholarships based on each school’s proportion of high school seniors. The Kentucky Department of Education estimates that there will be nearly 46,400 seniors in the class of 2017 statewide.
Eligible dual credit courses include both general education classes, and career and technical education courses in state-approved career pathways that lead to an industry-recognized credential.
In the 2015-16 school year, 9,319 Kentucky high schools students were enrolled in 25,102 dual credit courses, according to Kentucky Department of Education.
Participating postsecondary institutions that want to participate in the new program will agree to the tuition and fees ceiling for dual credit courses established in the program’s guidelines which are one-third of the in-state tuition rate for Kentucky Community and Technology College System. The schools will receive payment when the course is completed.
For more information, please contact Becky Gilpatrick, KHEAA Director of Student Aid Services, at (502) 696-7394 or rgilpatrick@kheaa.com.
Watch these Fulton County High School students discuss their experiences with dual credit courses.