Dual Credit Scholarship Program Doing Well

Barely five months since its inception, the Kentucky Dual Credit Scholarship Program is already yielding dramatic results across the Commonwealth.

Preliminary Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) data shows 36.3 percent more high school students are enrolled in dual credit courses this semester, compared to Fall 2015 (22,707 vs. 16,659) — with a 49.9 percent increase in the total number of courses taken (42,477 vs. 28,334).

Governor Matt Bevin and Education and Workforce Development Secretary Hal Heiner launched the Dual Credit Scholarship Program at a ceremony at Russell County High School in Russell Springs on June 1.

Beginning this school year, this program provides funds for dual credit scholarships for all 173 public school districts in the Commonwealth. The Kentucky General Assembly allocated a total of $15 million for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 academic years, through applying Kentucky Lottery proceeds to their stated goal of education.

Local school districts 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 seniors.

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.

All of Kentucky’s public colleges and universities, plus all but six of the state’s Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accredited private postsecondary institutions, are currently participating in the Dual Credit Scholarship Program.

Participating institutions include: Bellarmine University, Brescia University, Campbellsville University, Eastern Kentucky University, Kentucky Christian University, Kentucky State University, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Lindsey Wilson College, Midway University, Morehead State University, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University, Spalding University, Thomas More College, Union College, University of the Cumberlands, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, University of Pikeville, and Western Kentucky University, as well as the 16 colleges of the KCTCS system.

For more information about the Kentucky Dual Credit Scholarship Program, please visit http://ewdc.ky.gov/pages/DualCredit.aspx.