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Pell Grants now offered to high school students

Posted at 8:24 PM, May 16, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-16 20:24:18-04

A new grant is making higher education more accessible for low income students.

Federal Pell grants are now being offered to dual-enrolled high school students--students taking college classes while still in high school. 

$20 million of Federal Pell grant money is now available for about 10,000 high school students. 

Educators in Cleveland told NewsChannel 5 it's a move towards making higher education more accessible. 

Bard Early College's principal, Dr. Dumaine Williams, started talking to legislators in Washington D.C. about this more than a year ago.

Dr. Williams told NewsChannel 5 he hoped it meant that one day, public college-preparatory schools, like Bard, will get federal funding too.

They're a public school that's funded privately. Federal funding could mean more opportunity that make all the difference for low income students.

"The number one concern that I see with parents and students is, college is something I want but I'm afraid of because of college expenses," Williams said. 

44 institutions were invited to participate in the experimental grant. For a full list and more information, check out the U.S. Department of Education's Website