Wisconsin DPI awarded a $35-million grant with help from UW-Green Bay
In partnership with UW-Green Bay, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) was awarded a $35 million federal grant for the next seven years to support the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program (GEAR UP). GEAR UP helps students from economically disadvantaged families prepare for college through college scholarships, transitional support, and direct services including mentoring, tutoring, academic advising, college and career exploration and visits, and workforce readiness skill development.
The UW-Green Bay K-12 Relations program within the Division of Continuing Education and Community Engagement (CECE) will provide opportunities for students to earn college credit through the College Credit in High School (CCIHS) program and earn workforce microcredentials while still in high school at no cost to the student or family. These programs will support GEAR UP’s goals of increasing the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. GEAR UP funding will serve 2,500 middle and high school students in Ashland, Bayfield, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Racine, Shawano, Sheboygan, and Wausau schools as well as an additional 5,000 students and families around the state of Wisconsin each year.
Link to the full DPI press release: https://dpi.wi.gov/news/releases/2019/wisconsin-wins-35-million-help-economically-disadvantaged-students-attend-college
Staff from CECE say they are very excited about the opportunity to collaborate with the DPI to provide impactful programs designed to prepare students for postsecondary education and the workforce.
