WASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands of low-income students in nearly two dozen states will soon be able get federal grants to take college courses while still in high school, part of a program the Obama administration plans to begin this summer.

The experimental program allows high school kids to apply for federal Pell grant money to pay for college courses. The “dual enrollment” program is designed to help students from lower-income backgrounds.

The administration announced the 44 colleges that are expected to participate in the program. They will be able to begin providing the grants to students as early as July.

The list of colleges in Illinois include Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, Illinois Central College in East Peoria, and Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville. 

The Education Department says the administration will invest about $20 million in the 2016-17 school year to help about 10,000 students.

 

 
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