HARRISBURG - State Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Luzerne/Monroe, announced that three schools in his legislative district will receive Dual Enrollment grant funding to help students earn both high school and college credits simultaneously.

The school districts are: Pocono Mountain, $81,201, in Monroe County; Pittston Area, $29,558; and Wilkes-Barre Area, $45,874, in Luzerne County.

"This program gives students the chance to prepare for learning in the collegiate setting and lets them earn college credits to get an early start on their education," Carroll said.

The Dual Enrollment program enables high school juniors and seniors to enroll in college-level courses and receive postsecondary credit for coursework.

The grants for 2008-09 were awarded to 370 school districts and 16 career and technical schools in 64 counties, nearly three-fourths of the state's 501 school districts, and will give students access to nearly 50,000 college courses in the coming school year.