MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The U.S. Secretary of Education made a major announcement in Memphis Friday that will impact thousands of high schoolers.
Arne Duncan, who is stepping down in December, made Memphis one of his last stops.
At Southwest Tennessee Community College, he announced that for the first time in the U.S., the federal government will supply Pell Grants for dual enrollment, meaning high schoolers who want to take college courses.
“What we’re going to announce today is really trying to close that financial gap,” Duncan said.
Duncan said that gap keeps students from striving for college credit, including right here in Memphis.
He said universities and high schools can team up and apply for the grants from the federal government.
Those are dollars that will cover high school students’ costs if they want to try dual enrollment.
“This is a huge deal. You heard about the huge interest, and Memphis has done a great job with leading this. But you also heard there are many students who would like to take more classes, who simply can’t do it, because they don’t have the financial wherewithal,” Duncan said.
Memphis already has dual enrollment capabilities. The district said every Shelby County Schools student has the opportunity. Right now, about 27 schools have students taking advantage of it.
Duncan hopes that with the grants, up to 10,000 students across the country will be able to try it.
It could provide potential first generation college students the chance to test the waters.
“It makes the transition from high school to college much easier. Students realize that college is much more obtainable than they thought it was,” said Cordova High School Counselor Kimberly Durham.
“They start to take college classes and guess what? ‘I belong in that world. I can be a part of that,'” Duncan said.
Starting next week, universities can pair up with high schools and apply for those grants.
Applications continue through January.
The government will respond by May, and selected students will have their grants by July in time for Fall 2016.
