Education Department Awards GEAR UP Grants to Support Pathways to College

Sixty-six grants were awarded under the Department of Education's Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant program. These awards, totaling $ 177.4 million, will help to ensure that students are well-prepared for post-secondary education. Two types of grants were awarded: $77.3 million for 19 state grants and $100.1 million for 47 partnership grants in 24 states. Grantees serve an entire group of students, usually beginning no later than seventh grade, and follow them throughout high school. State grants include both a required activities component, such as educating students about college and financial aid, providing support through the application process and increasing students' participation in more academically rigorous courses, and a scholarship component requiring the state to maintain a post-secondary education financial assistance program for GEAR UP students. Partnership projects had to include at least one low-income middle school, one college or university, and two community or business organizations. Partners have to work together to provide students and their families with needed support services such as tutoring, mentoring and college preparation and financial aid.

This grant is a huge opportunity for those communities looking to build a cradle to college to career pipeline for children in their neighborhood. For more information about the GEAR UP program, please visit the GEAR UP page on DOE's website. Click here to see the list of new grantees.