68,000 participate in college-credit program
Associated Press
COLUMBUS
The state says more than 68,000 students participated during the second full year of a statewide program that allows Ohio middle- and high-schoolers to earn free college credit.
The Ohio Department of Higher Education says that figure for the 2016-17 school year represents a slight increase in College Credit Plus participation over last year’s 54,000 students.
The program is open to college-ready students at public, private and in-home schools, grades 7 through 12.
The department says 44 percent of participating students were high school seniors. Twenty-eight percent were juniors. More than 90 percent of participants got the passing grade necessary to earn college credit.
The department estimates families saved $124 million in future college tuition through the program. Students’ home districts pick up the tab for most of that cost.