Program Purpose:
The College Access Challenge Grant (CACG) Program is a formula grant program designed to foster partnerships among Federal, State and local government entitities and philanthropic organizations or Non-Profit organizations to significantly increase the number of underrepresented students who enter and remain in postsecondary education. These funds are available under Section 781 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended; 20 USC 1141.
Program Description:
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Project GRAD USA (GRAD USA), the Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) will partner under the College Access Challenge Grant Program (CACGP) to deliver college access services to students in 43 low-income high schools and their feeder middle schools while also providing financial aid information statewide. GRAD USA and Penn State provide targeted, intensive intervention services, leveraging the significant college access resources provided by PHEAA state-wide. PHEAA provides financial aid informational workshops, training, and materials throughout the state and specific services to 24 College Access to Postsecondary Schools (CAPS). PDE ensures CACGP implementation, effective program delivery, quality control and supports buy-in with the targeted districts and the statewide effort.
2011 College Access Challenge Partnership Grant Recipients:
- Project GRAD USA
Mission: To ensure a quality public education for economically disadvantaged students so that high school graduation and college entrance rates increase dramatically.
Schools Served: 11 high schools and their feeder middle schools in some of the most economically distressed areas in Pennsylvania – Chester High School, Chester-Upland School District; Clairton High School, Clairton School District; McCaskey High School, Lancaster School District; Stephen Douglas High School, Philadelphia School District; Roxborough High School, Philadelphia School District; Sayre High School, Philadelphia School District; South Philadelphia High School, Philadelphia School District; Strawberry Mansion High School, Philadelphia School District; Vaux High School, Philadelphia School District; Woodland Hills High School, Woodland Hills School District; William Penn High School, York School District
- Penn State University
Mission: To increase college access and graduation among low and moderate income high school and community college students.
Schools Served: 19 high schools located in regions where 83% of residents have an educational completion level of less than a bachelor's degree – Aliquippa High School, Aliquippa School District; Avon Grove High School, Avon Grove School District; Edison High School, Philadelphia School District; Farrell High School, Farrell Area School District; Furness High School, Philadelphia School District; Germantown High School, Philadelphia School District; Gettysburg High School, Gettysburg Area School District; Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg School District; Hazleton High School, Hazleton Area School District; Kennett High School, Kennett School District; Martin Luther King High School, Philadelphia School District; McKeesport Area High School, McKeesport Area School District; New Castle High School, New Castle Area School District; New Hope Academy Charter School, York School District; Olney West High School, Philadelphia School District; Reading High School, Reading School District; Sharon High School, Sharon City School District; Steelton Highspire High School, Steelton Highspire School District; Valley Senior High School, New Kensington-Arnold School District
- PHEAA
Mission: To develop innovative ways to ease the financial burden of higher education for students, families, schools and taxpayers.
Schools Served: 17 secondary schools across Pennsylvania where at least 40% of students are from low-income households as defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and where less than 60% of high school seniors indicate that they intend to move on to higher education – Columbia Junior/Senior High School, Columbia Borough School District; Conneaut Valley Junior/Senior High School, Conneaut School District; Dieruff High School, Allentown School District; East High School, Erie School District; Fannett-Metal High School, Fannett-Metal School District; Frazier High School, Frazier School District; Mahanoy High School, Mahanoy Area School District; McKeesport Area High School, McKeesport Area School District; New Castle Junior/Senior High School, New Castle Area School District; North Penn Junior/Senior High School, Southern Tioga School District; Shamokin Area High School, Shamokin Area School District; Sharon High School, Sharon City School District; Southern Fulton Junior/Senior High School, Southern Fulton School District; Steelton Highspire High School, Steelton Highspire School District; Sto-Rox High School, Sto-Rox School District; Towanda High School, Towanda Area School District; Williamsport Area High School, Williamsport Area School District
Guidelines and Application Procedures for Pennsylvania College Access Challenge Grant Program PA CACGP (PDF)
