2.28.08 - Strickland Announces Early Adopter Grants for Seniors to Sophomores Program

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today announced that the Ohio Board of Regents and the Ohio Department of Education will begin requesting proposals from teams of public high schools and colleges who are interested in becoming “early adopters” of the Seniors to Sophomores program.

Seniors to Sophomores is a dual enrollment program, announced by Strickland in his 2008 State of the State address, which enables qualified high school seniors to get an early jump on college.

“In order for Ohio to be competitive for the jobs of the future, we must increase the number of Ohioans with college degrees to ensure our state has the best-educated workforce,” Strickland said. “Seniors to Sophomores will give high school seniors the opportunity to graduate from high school with a diploma in one hand and a college transcript in the other. These students will know they can be successful in college and will leave high school with the confidence and credits to continue their higher education to receive a college degree.”

Seniors to Sophomores allows high school seniors, who meet academic standards, to take college level courses that will be transferable to public colleges and universities in the University System of Ohio. Students who elect to take a full load of college courses in their senior year will be able to enter college on a second-year level, or as college sophomores. Tuition for the year will be free.

Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut asked to have the award process fast-tracked so the program can be available to as many high school seniors across Ohio this fall as possible. The pilot programs will be evaluated in 2009 for greater expansion the following school year.

“I hope to see a wide variety of partnerships that reach as many students as quickly as possible. Our best partnerships will be those that address the variety of barriers around our state that students face in earning college credit, and can become models for other partnerships with similar challenges. We have an opportunity here to implement a progressive program to make college more accessible and affordable,” said Chancellor Fingerhut.

A total of $4 million is available under this special grant program. The maximum grant for each team is $100,000. Due to the source of the funds, eligibility is limited to public high schools, though the Seniors to Sophomores program will eventually serve all schools in Ohio, public and private. Funds may be used to plan for encouraging high school students to participate in all college-level programs, as well as implementation of Seniors to Sophomores.

“Early Adopter” school districts are responsible for ensuring that participating students are able to earn their high school diploma through this program. Applications for “Early Adopter” funding may be submitted from the school district – college partnerships beginning March 10.

If a student would like to participate in Seniors to Sophomores but does not attend an “Early Adopter” school, the Ohio Board of Regents will work directly with the student to either find a Seniors to Sophomores program nearby or find other college credit options that will provide the student with a full year’s worth of college credit. Students can sign up for updates by clicking here or can call 1-877-IATTAIN.

A Request for Applications [RFA] providing details for school districts interested in applying for “Early Adopter” incentive funds is posted here.

Office of the Governor Press Releases