Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP)

The Illinois GEAR UP (ILGU) Grant Program is designed to significantly increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. The GEAR UP Grant Program provides seven-year grants to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools (across 12 Illinois schools districts) and through the first year of college. The services provided under this grant include: mentoring; outreach (e.g., family workshops, college visits), and supportive services (e.g., FAFSA Completion Nights, SAT/ACT Prep). A portion of the GEAR UP Grant will also be used to fund a District Coordinator for each of the schools districts participating in the grant. District Coordinators will be school-based staff, directly hired and supervised by each partner district. ILGU Coordinators will be recruited from the community, and will deliver direct services in accordance with the annual work plan developed in partnership between partner schools, the community, and ISAC. A portion of the GEAR UP Grant will be used to provide postsecondary scholarships to eligible students that will be administered by ISAC.

ISAC was awarded a multi- fiscal year competitive GEAR UP grant by the U.S. Department of Education. ISAC is the pass-through agency for funding to be awarded to Illinois K-12 schools/districts that were designated as part of ISAC's grant application. This funding opportunity is for FFY26, including the 2025-26 academic year.

School districts were pre-selected to participate, and identified as part of the federal GEAR UP Grant application that was submitted (and approved) by the U.S. Department of Education.

School districts are identified in the federal grant application. Postsecondary scholarships will be awarded to eligible students.

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www.isac.org

Monthly Expenditure Reports Quarterly reports using the PPR and the PFR Close-Out Financial Report Annual Financial Report