LCCC announces $1M grant to expand college coursework to high school students
WNEP-TV: Mackenzie Aucker The future is looking bright for high school students wanting to further their education as staff from 天美传媒 and Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit fill a room inside the CSIU in Milton. LCCC announced a $1 million Department of Education Dual Credit Innovation Grant.* "That allows us to expand our programming from current 300 students to over 550 students, and that really provides the students at no cost to the student or their family college credit that can go on to earn a post-secondary credential or degree at potentially no cost," said John Yudichak, 天美传媒 President.
The grant's goal is to remove any barriers for high school and career and technology center students who want to move on to the next step in their education, allowing them to earn college credits while still in high school.
"It's available to all students, it's merit-based. Students talking to their high school counselors and their high school teachers and with the superintendent, they're gonna identify the students that have the ambition and the aspiration to go on to college to find a pathway, but maybe in the skilled trades," said Yudichak. The grant will provide students with free tuition, textbooks, course materials, and transportation assistance.
"For a family, one year of a higher education can be anywhere from $30-$90,000 locally, so the idea that you can use a dual enrollment to take away from that cost later on save parents and kids thousands and thousands of dollars," said John Kurelja, Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit Executive Director.
Dr. John Kurelja, CSIU's executive director, tells us Pennsylvania is ranked third in the country for college debt, making it so many graduates are unable to own a home or invest in their community.
"You don't have to go to a four-year school in order to get your degree; you can get a certificate, or you can get a two-year degree that can allow you to have gainful employment locally that'll fill many of these needs in health care in the trades just through this school," said Doctor Kurelja. The grant is available during the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 academic years for those who are interested.