ELLENSBURG, Wash. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Education has awarded an $11.4 million grant to Central Washington University to help largely low-income students in rural communities prepare for college.
The grant announced Monday is part of the federal GEAR UP program, which provides tutors, college visits and higher education preparation assistance. This is CWU’s third GEAR UP grant since 2001 and its largest-ever federal grant.
The grant will serve current sixth- and seventh-grade students in the Brewster, Chelan, Quincy, Manson, Omak, Oroville, Tonasket and Highland school districts. Seventh graders will also receive support during their first year in college.
The grant will help teachers get certified to offer college-level courses in high school, and CWU students will have the opportunity to work with students in some of the targeted school districts.
