Get Ready Awarded $31M Grant from U.S. Department of Education

9/16/2024

 

Get Ready, a college access initiative housed in the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, has been awarded a $31,150,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Get Ready staff work with middle school students from low-income backgrounds and at-risk communities to ensure they have the support necessary to pursue higher education. The grant ensures Get Ready is able to continue serving Minnesotans for an additional seven years.

“Get Ready is a critical effort in our work to close attainment gaps in Minnesota,” said Minnesota Office of Higher Education Commissioner Dennis Olson. “No matter what path a student may choose: on-the-job training, a certificate, an associate’s, or bachelor’s degree; Get Ready staff are providing students with the support they need to thrive after high school. I want to thank the U.S. Department of Education for recognizing their incredible work with this grant.”

Get Ready staff are currently embedded in 19 schools, serving 5,728 students across six districts in the state, including Fridley, Brooklyn Center, Robbinsdale, Minneapolis, Red Lake, and Saint Cloud. They begin working with students when they are in the sixth and seventh grades, connecting them with resources around college readiness and success. With this grant, Get Ready plans to scale up statewide supports, allowing them to serve an additional 12,000 more students throughout Minnesota.

“Get Ready represents a transformative step towards ensuring that all students, especially those from low-income backgrounds, have the support and resources they need to succeed in postsecondary education,” said Get Ready Director Patrick Milton. “Our comprehensive approach, combined with strong community partnerships, will empower students to achieve their educational and career goals.”

Over the grant period, Get Ready will offer a diverse range of evidence-based services, including:

• College admissions and financial aid workshops and counseling
• In-class and after-school tutoring
• Academic programs during after-school hours and summer
• College visits
• Career awareness counseling
• Academic mentoring
• Professional development for teachers and school staff
• Test preparation support
• Individualized postsecondary planning and first-year college assistance

The program will allocate $2,765,000 in federal funds to provide Pell-equivalent scholarships to select students attending college in the state, supporting their journey through postsecondary education. Through these initiatives, Get Ready aims to achieve substantial improvements in key educational metrics, including:

• Improved average daily attendance rates within district schools
• Increased graduation rates
• Increased completion of FAFSA applications
• Enhanced postsecondary enrollment rates and greater persistence into the second year of college
• Improved GPAs and college knowledge amongst students and their families

Get Ready is a proud partner and collaborator with education groups across the state, including: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, Minneapolis College, the Minnesota Department of Education, the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council, Inc. (SWPIC), The National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP), National Postsecondary Strategies Institute (NPSI), Mastery Prep, Genesys Works Twin Cities, InsideTrack, and Youthprise.

For more information about the Get Ready program, please visit www.getready.state.mn.us.