Future forward - gear up!

Region One Education Service Center received a $4.56 million Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education under the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP, CFDA 84.334) on October 1, 2025, with completion targeted for September 30, 2026. This award supports the "FUTURE FORWARD - GEAR UP!" initiative, which delivers comprehensive college readiness and career pathway services to low-income and underserved secondary students across the Rio Grande Valley region in South Texas.

Through this grant, Region One Education Service Center provides academic support, mentoring, counseling, financial aid information, and related services designed to improve high school completion rates and prepare students—including those with disabilities—for postsecondary success. The organization leverages its regional service center infrastructure to deliver technical assistance, professional development, and direct student support services to local educational agencies and students throughout its service area, with a particular focus on supporting minority and Hispanic-serving student populations in South Texas.