PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island received a $24.5 million grant to help economically disadvantaged public school students prepare for college, the state’s congressional delegation announced Tuesday.
The grant will provide and augment advisory services, college readiness programming, family engagement programs, and scholarship support to participating students.
The money comes from a federal grant called the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, or Gear Up, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Education.
Rhode Island will receive $3.5 million a year for seven years under the grant programs initial terms. It is estimated that over this time, 3,500 students will have benefitted per year from the sixth grade through their first year of college in Cranston, Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence and Woonsocket.
The nonprofit College Crusade of Rhode Island will use the grant to deploy 29 full-time advisers at 35 middle and high schools and at the three public colleges and universities in the state. The organization has been developing and implementing Rhode Island Gear Up programs for almost two decades, according to a release from the delegation.
“Every child, regardless of the neighborhood where they live, deserves a first-class education and the opportunity to succeed in a career of their choice,” said U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse. “This federal award will allow The College Crusade of Rhode Island to open a life-changing door to college for more students who might otherwise never have considered it.”
“We are thrilled to continue providing innovative programs and services that keep the young people of our state on the path to postsecondary education and degree completion,” said Andrew Bramson, CEO and president of The College Crusade.
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor.
