Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, is delighted to announce a federal award from the U.S. Department of Education totaling $2,643,209 to the Bibb County School District. The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) Partnership program is a competitive grant program designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education and job training.

“Uplifting our students and setting them on a path to success will raise all tides and strengthen the economy for all,” said Congressman Bishop. “Whether it is through apprenticeship programs, career and technical education training, or attending college, the cohort of Bibb County students served by this GEAR UP Partnership award will have a better chance at graduating high school, successfully completing career training, and finding good paying jobs in the growing number of industries that are currently booming in the state of Georgia.”

“The U.S. Department of Education's award of the GEAR Up grant to the Bibb County School District is a significant investment in our students' future,” said Dr. Lori Ward Rodgers, Assistant Superintendent for District Effectiveness and Federal Programs at the Bibb County School District. “The grant will support various initiatives focused on improving post-secondary readiness and academic achievement, including expanding tutoring services, introducing new college and career readiness programs, and offering additional resources and support for students and their families. This grant is a game-changer for our community!”

GEAR UP provides six-year or seven years grants to states and partnerships to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools. GEAR UP grantees serve an entire cohort of students beginning no later than the seventh grade and follow the cohort through high school. GEAR UP funds are also used to provide college scholarships to low-income students.

This specific partnership, the GEAR UP: Built4Bibb, will serve 3,304 students in 14 schools (Weaver Middle, Ballard-Hudson Middle, Rutland Middle, Howard Middle, Miller Middle, Appling Middle, VIP Academy Middle, Westside High, Southwest High, Rutland High, Howard High, Central High, and Northeast High, and VIP Academy High).The project begins with 6th and 7th-grade cohorts and follows the 7th-grade cohort through their first year of college and the 6th-grade cohort through their high school senior year.

The GEAR UP Partnership program was made possible by the Fiscal Year 2024 federal government funding bill, which Congressman Bishop supported.