Federal money to help Philly students with college prep
About 4,600 Philadelphia sixth and seventh graders will begin a six-year college preparatory program this fall thanks to federal funding announced yesterday.
About 4,600 Philadelphia sixth and seventh graders will begin a six-year college preparatory program this fall thanks to federal funding announced yesterday.
The $3.8 million federal grant is part of GEAR UP, or Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, a program designed to encourage more low-income students in the public school system to complete college.
Of the 100 largest U.S. cities, Philadelphia ranks 92d in adults with a college degree, said Rep. Chaka Fattah (D., Pa.), who wrote the GEAR UP legislation 10 years ago and announced the grant yesterday.
"It is critical in terms of our workforce development that we get more young people to go to college," he said.
Fattah said that for the next six years, 4,678 sixth and seventh graders at 28 schools will participate in workshops reinforcing a college degree's importance, visit colleges, and receive help when it's time for them to apply to schools.
The schools will also join with several colleges - including Villanova and Temple Universities and Community College of Philadelphia - to offer students mentoring, counseling, and other academic assistance.
The school district expects to receive a similar federal grant, about $4 million, annually for the next six years to run the program.
