Jackson gear up

Jackson Public Schools received a $1.52 million Project Grant from the Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education under the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP, CFDA 84.334) for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. This award funds comprehensive educational support services designed to improve high school completion and postsecondary readiness among low-income secondary students. The deliverables include academic counseling, financial aid guidance, mentoring, tutoring, and scholarship assistance provided to eligible students in the Jackson, Mississippi school district.

GEAR UP is a federally funded program that supports 6- to 7-year initiatives providing academic and financial support to secondary students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Jackson Public Schools' award represents a single-year obligation within the broader GEAR UP portfolio, which has distributed $5.97 billion across 908 grants nationwide since 2001. The district's project aims to reduce school dropout rates and prepare students for successful transition to postsecondary education through integrated student support services.