Harrisburg – The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) a six-year, $18 million grant to help students in the Allentown, Harrisburg and Philadelphia school districts prepare for and succeed in college.

The grant was awarded under the department’s GEAR UP Program – Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. It is PASSHE’s second award under the program. The State System received a five-year, $12.5 million grant in 2002. That award, which expires this fall, benefitted students in the Harrisburg and Philadelphia school districts.

Students who participate in GEAR UP receive a variety of services throughout their middle school and high school years. Initially, the students take part in an individual assessment of their academic, financial, motivational and personal needs, which leads to the development of their own Educational Action Plan. The students also are offered programs that help them explore potential careers. Their parents are encouraged to participate in programs that will help them help their children get ready for college.

“This new grant will allow us to continue an extremely valuable program that encourages and supports students and their families on the path toward college,” said PASSHE Chancellor John C. Cavanaugh. “It is a tremendous opportunity that not only will benefit the students who will be involved in the program, but also will help to ensure a brighter future for Pennsylvania.”

The new grant will assist approximately 3,700 students from the three urban school districts. The students will begin the program in seventh grade and will receive the program’s services through their graduation from high school.

The program’s partners will match the federal funding, contributing an additional $18 million toward the program over the next six years. The largest contributors will be the Harrisburg School District ($6.4 million), Allentown School District ($4.2 million), School District of Philadelphia ($4.1 million) and PASSHE ($2.1 million).

All 14 PASSHE universities will participate in the program. Other program partners will be the state Department of Education, Philadelphia Youth Network and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).

Services provided to students in the program will include tutoring, mentoring, one-on-one and small-group advising, college visits and workshops on financial aid and college admissions. Parents will be invited to participate in the financial aid and college workshops and other outreach activities.

To help promote improvement in the participating school districts, each will expand its professional development efforts in the core academic subjects. Harrisburg and Allentown school districts will use GEAR UP funds to support new coaches for teachers along with related professional development services. Allentown School District also will provide university mentors to its math teachers. Both districts will pay the cost of these programs after grant funding ends.

The School District of Philadelphia will support existing coaches through professional development activities and also will fund opportunities for teachers to receive graduate-level coursework and seminars to promote college-level writing among students.

The program seeks to improve students’ academic performance, to increase high school graduation rates and to increase the number and percentage of students who go on to college.

The program will serve approximately 1,400 students from Allentown, 600 from Harrisburg and 1,697 from Philadelphia.

With more than 110,000 students, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. The 14 PASSHE universities offer degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Approximately 405,000 PASSHE alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock, and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. PASSHE also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Freeport, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.