Gear up dougherty 2032 (GU-D 2032)

The Dougherty County Board of Education received a $1.50 million Project Grant award 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 a completion date of September 30, 2026. This award funds comprehensive support services designed to improve college readiness and high school completion rates among low-income students in Albany, Georgia, including those with disabilities.

Under this grant, Dougherty County Board of Education will deliver academic counseling, financial aid guidance, mentoring, tutoring, and scholarship assistance to eligible secondary students. The program aims to reduce student dropout rates, prepare low-income students for postsecondary education, and provide families with information regarding college financing options and the benefits of obtaining a postsecondary degree. These services align with GEAR UP's statutory objective to support low-income students in obtaining secondary school diplomas and succeeding in higher education.