CANTON Students in three counties will have the opportunity to experience college - for free - without leaving the highschool classroom.
It's all because of a $225,000 grant awarded to the Stark County Educational Service Center this week by the state.
The Stark service center has partnered with Columbiana and Wayne counties and area collegesto secure the funding, thanks to a new law signed in June by Gov. Bob Taft. The Stark Educational Partnership and the Stark County Tech Prep Consortium also are partners.
"What we are looking to do is to enhance that transition from highschooltocollege by using post-secondary options," said Mel Lioi, assistant superintendent of the Stark service center. "If kids have some exposuretocollege, they will be more likely pursue college after highschool."
The Stark partnership is one of 16 throughout the state to receive the grants, which cover the cost of student tuition, books and faculty, allowing students throughout Ohio to earn free college credits while still in highschool.
More than 3,000 Ohio highschoolstudents are expected to take advantage of the opportunities.
Lioi said the Stark partnership will begin training with participating colleges - the University of Akron; Kent State University; Malone, Mount Union and Stark State colleges; and Walsh University - and start its program this summer.
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