This week the state awarded The University of Toledo two grants to support the College Credit Plus program that allows high school students to earn college credits free of charge.

The $457,720 and $311,608 grants from the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Higher Education provide UT the support to develop programs and pay for high school teachers to earn qualifications needed to teach college courses in their high school classrooms. Teachers can begin taking the courses at UT in March.

“This will fund tuition for a master’s degree for up to 40 high school teachers in Toledo Public Schools and other districts across the state so they will be prepared to teach chemistry, biology or English at the college level,” said Rebecca Schneider, professor and chair of UT’s department of curriculum and instruction in the Judith Herb College of Education. “This makes a college education more accessible and convenient for students.”

The statewide College Credit Plus program gives college-bound 7th through 12th grade students the opportunity to earn high school credit and college credit simultaneously at any Ohio public college or university.

“The program gives students the advantage of starting the transition to college early, while reducing the cost and length of time to receive a bachelor’s degree,” Schneider said. “By credentialing dozens of high school teachers in our area to teach college courses, we are expanding higher education opportunities for more children.”

A total of 911 students enrolled in the College Credit Plus at UT in the fall of 2015. Of those, 401 are TPS students.

UT is one of 19 applicants chosen to receive a portion of $10 million in new grant funding allocated by the Ohio General Assembly as part of the Straight A Fund.

“Providing this funding for teacher credentialing will ultimately allow more students to take advantage of College Credit Plus, which is great news for students and families looking to save potentially thousands on the cost of a college education,” Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor John Carey said. “And having more teachers in our high schools with these qualifications helps secure a strong future for the College Credit Plus program.”

“With this grant, more students will be able to take college courses without leaving their high schools,” State Superintendent Dr. Richard A. Ross said. “That allows students to get a jump on their college education in a learning environment that is already familiar to them.”

To learn more about UT’s College Credit Plus program, go to utoledo.edu/admission/dualcredit/.

Media Coverage
13 ABC (Dec. 17, 2015)
The Blade (Dec. 18, 2015)
WTOL 11 (Dec. 22, 2015)
WTOL 11 (Jan. 8, 2016)

Tags: Judith Herb College of Education