Pell grant help coming for high school students

Help paying for an education may be on its way for some bright low-income students who want to take college-level courses while in high school but don’t have the money to afford the cost.

Today the federal Department of Education announced it is trying an experiment that will for the first time allow high school students access to Pell Grants to pay for college credits they’re seeking through dual enrollment. While not as expensive as college tuition, getting those college credits in a dual-enrollment course can be a barrier for students who families struggle financially. And until now federal financial assistance was not available. Students that get some college level course work out the way while in high school can graduate sooner from college and save on tuition down the road.

“A postsecondary education is one of the most important investments students can make in their future. Yet the cost of this investment is higher than ever, creating a barrier to access for some students, particularly those from low-income families,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in a statement released on Friday. “We look forward to partnering with institutions to help students prepare to succeed in college.”

Next week colleges and universities that partner with public high schools or other education agencies will be called to apply to participate in the dual enrollment experiment. The education department is putting up to $20 million in the 2016-2017 award year which could benefit up to 10,000 students from low-income backgrounds across the country.

This story was originally published October 30, 2015 at 4:45 PM with the headline "Pell grant help coming for high school students."