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April 22, 2026 - Kutztown, PA

ADVISORY - Hundreds of Pennsylvania High School Students Are Earning Tuition-Free College Credits Through Dual-Credit Programs Supported by Shapiro Administration Investments

Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe will visit Kutztown University tomorrow to celebrate 68 students from 19 school districts who will graduate from high school this spring with college credits earned through Kutztown University's Early College Academy, a dual-credit program that is building capacity to offer tuition-free college courses to even more high school students over the next few years thanks to more than $1.7 million in grant funding from the Shapiro Administration.

Secretary Rowe will also announce $7 million in grants to 10 institutions of higher education to build and expand programs that offer hundreds of Pennsylvania students a headstart on their college career - bringing the Shapiro Administration's total investment in the Dual Credit Innovation Grant Program to $21 million.

Since taking office, Governor Josh Shapiro has improved education for Pennsylvanians of all ages and backgrounds, made strategic investments that uplift all Pennsylvanians, and broken down barriers to opportunity. Under the Governor's leadership, Pennsylvania has increased funding for public education by almost $3 billion in just three years. This includes nearly $2 billion more for K-12 public schools, $190 million more for Special Education, $65 million more for Career and Technical Education, and $52 million more for higher education.

Governor Shapiro's 2026-27 budget proposal builds on this progress for Pennsylvanians all across the Commonwealth by investing another $7 million in dual-credit programs for high school students who want to pursue higher education. Recipients of the Dual Credit Innovation Grant must offer the dual-credit program to students at no cost.

WHAT: Secretary of Education to Announce $7 Million in Dual Credit Grants and Celebrate 68 Students Who Earned College Credit Through Kutztown University

WHEN: Wednesday, April 22 at 9 AM

WHERE: Kutztown University, Schaeffer Auditorium, 15229 Kutztown Road, Kutztown, PA 19530

RSVP: Press who are interested in attending should RSVP to erinjames@pa.gov.