Arkansas Tech University on Monday announced that it’s one of 26 educational entities across the U.S. chosen to receive a grant to help students in kindergarten through high school prepare for college.
The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant was awarded by the the U.S. Department of Education. Funds. In a news release, Arkansas Tech said the seven-year grant will allow ATU to serve 1,157 students from the Clarksville School District and the Russellville School District.
Goals of the program are to increase the academic performance and preparation for post-secondary education of participating students; increase the rate of high school graduation and participation in post-secondary education; and educate students and their families about higher education options, preparation and financing for success in post-secondary education.
Arkansas Tech is the only educational entity in Arkansas that received a GEAR UP grant for the 2024-25 cycle.
The program works with a cohort of students beginning at the upper elementary and middle grades levels to prepare them for college. It involves mentoring, tutoring, family events, parental education and test preparation.
Mohamed Ibrahim, ATU professor of curriculum and instruction, is the primary investigator on the grant. He said the grant aligns with the university’s mission to support young learners from diverse and economically challenged backgrounds. “It is a privilege to contribute to such a transformative effort that promises to make a lasting impact on the lives of these students and their communities,” he said.
Along with the school districts in Clarksville and Russellville, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Arkansas River Valley’s Russellville location and Education Consulting LLC will help implement the grant.
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