Lafayette Parish School System Lands $1.8 Million Grant

GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a program of the U. S. Department of Education that is designed to prepare low-income students to succeed in post-secondary education. Through that program the Lafayette Parish School System will receive a $1.8 million grant.

Congressman Charles Boustany who announced the grant today said,

The GEAR UP Program is an excellent tool for local school systems to identify talented low-income students and train them to realize their potential. By giving these students the tools to lift themselves out of the cycle of poverty, we can create a new generation of American achievers. I am proud to support the Lafayette Parish School System and the important work they do training the next generation of Louisianans.

Traci Aucoin, Lafayette Parish School System GER UP Project Director said,

The support we have received during the GEAR UP application process demonstrates that Louisiana is invested in the success and growth of our educational system. GEAR UP is essential in building academic rigor and support needed to encourage student success, increase commitment to learning and motivate youth to attend post-secondary education.