Dual Credit Grant 2022-2023

Background and Guidelines

Effective with the 2022-23 school year, Pennsylvania law (24 P.S. § 15-1525) requires school entities to enter into agreements with IHEs approved to operate in Pennsylvania to allow students to earn college-level credit prior to graduating high school. These agreements are referred to as dual credit agreements because credit is earned at both the secondary school and the IHE. In accordance with section 1525 of the Pennsylvania School Code (24 P.S. § 15-1525) all school districts, area career and technical schools, charter schools, cyber charter schools and regional charter schools must enter into at least one agreement with an institution of higher education (IHE) approved to operate in the commonwealth that allows secondary school students to attend the IHE while the students are enrolled in the school entity. A school entity may have agreements with more than one IHE; IHEs may have agreements with more than one school entity.

To support school entities with meeting these requirements and to increase access to dual credit coursework statewide, the PDE Division of Instructional Quality will award up to $6.5 million in state funds to eligible school entities through a competitive grant process to create or expand dual credit programs.

Eligibility

Eligible proposals will focus on addressing the goal of the Dual Credit grant which is to create or expand equitable and innovative dual credit opportunities for all secondary school students, all students enrolled in the school entity, including students experiencing educational instability, students enrolled in career and technical education programs, low-income students, and historically underserved student groups. Specifically, consideration will be given to proposals that include (but are not limited to) any of the following:

1. Creation or expansion of a dual credit program whereby secondary school students receive credits at or through an IHE approved to operate in the commonwealth and wherein credits earned by secondary school students are the same as those offered to postsecondary school students enrolled an IHE.
2. Creation or expansion of a dual credit program whereby secondary school students may use the credits earned at an IHE toward the completion of courses required for graduation at the school entity.
3. Creation or expansion of a dual credit program wherein courses are offered in-person, online, or a combination of in-person and online.
4. Creation or expansion of a dual credit program wherein the school entity pays for the tuition, fees, supplies, and/or other costs related to the secondary school student's enrollment in courses at an IHE.
5. Creation or expansion of opportunities for the school entity's teachers to become appropriately credentialed by an IHE to teach or facilitate IHE courses for secondary students, including completing coursework and/or professional development as required by an IHE for credentialing.
6. Expansion of the number of agreements with IHEs that offer dual credit opportunities to secondary school students. Funds received through this dual credit grant may be used to offset out-of-state IHE registration and approval fees [see approval process].

For the purposes of this grant application, expansion of a dual credit program includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. Increasing the number of courses offered for dual credit with an approved IHE;
2. Increasing the number of students participating in dual credit opportunities, including students experiencing educational instability, students enrolled in career and technical education programs, low-income students, and historically underserved student groups;
3. Augmenting the modality or location of course offerings, to include on-line courses, hybrid courses, courses at the school entity, or courses at the IHE.

Funding

• Eligible grantees may receive a total award amount up to $75,000 for expenditures realized between August 1, 2022, and June 30, 2024. Awards are contingent upon available funding.
• Funds may be expended only for purposes identified in the proposal and approved by the Division of Instructional Quality. Funds expended beyond those identified and approved will not be reimbursed.
• Applicants may request up to $75,000. The Department reserves the right not to review applications whose request exceeds $75,000.
• Funds must be used in accordance with the criteria identified in section 1525 of the Pennsylvania School Code (24 P.S. § 15-1525) and fulfill the requirements of the guidelines set forth in this request for application.
• Funding is not guaranteed. All grants are competitive and reviewed based on meeting the application requirements, statutory priorities, and scoring rubrics.

Eligible Expenses

Due to limited funding, only items directly related to eligible programs and activities covered in this request for application will be funded by the Dual Credit grant. Grant funds paid to the school entity may not be used for direct salaries or fringe benefits. All budgets will be reviewed to evaluate appropriateness and connection to proposed grant activities and goals.

Award and Disbursement of Funds

Grant awards are projected to be announced in March 2023. Grantees will subsequently be required to sign a grant agreement with the Division of Instructional Quality. Expenditures to be reimbursed under the grant will be retroactive to August 1, 2022. All grant funds must be expended by June 30, 2024.

The PDE Division of Instructional Quality will seek repayment of funds if it determines that funds were not utilized for the original stated and approved purpose. All unused grant funds must be returned to the Division of Instructional Quality with the final report.

​Frequently Asked Questions

Technical Assistance

Contact the Division of Instructional Quality at RA-EDInstQuality@pa.gov for technical assistance or with questions related to the grant application.