ED Office Gets ‘GEARed UP'
The federal government has its new GEAR-UP program ready for business.
The program to prepare middle and high school youth for college will award its first grants this year, with applications due by April 30. The Ford Foundation and the National Center for Urban Partnerships are co-sponsoring workshops on March 11 to help colleges, universities, and other groups develop their applications.
GEAR-UP is offering two types of grants, with colleges expected to be more interested in partnership grants that include one postsecondary institution and one school district that has middle and high schools in low-income neighborhoods. These projects also must include additional partners in a community, the U.S. Education Department (ED) says.
Also available are GEAR-UP state grants that will fund more comprehensive programs in several locations. ED expects an average state grant of $1.5 million to $2 million, with a $5 million maximum.
Congress and the White House endorsed the GEAR-UP concept in last year's Higher Education Act bill and reserved $120 million in first-year funds. One of its prime architects was Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.), a Congressional Black Caucus member.
More information is available through ED's Internet site at <http://www.ed.gov/gearup>. Colleges also may call for application information at 1-800-4-ED-PUBS.
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