Rep. Fattah Tells Educators that GEAR UP Has a Critical Role Preparing Students for Success in the Global Economy

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Feb 05, 2013, 03:39 ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA-02), architect of GEAR UP, the nation's most successful college-readiness program, has congratulated program administrators and staff and assured them that their work is critical to America's success for global competitiveness.

The Congressman, in his video address from the Capitol to an educator capacity building workshop in Las Vegas, spoke of GEAR UP's success and its ability to dramatically improve student outcomes. Last week the New America Foundation, a premiere Washington think tank, called for tripling the federal funding for GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs), currently at $302 million.

Today Fattah continues his leadership for higher education opportunities by signing on as the original co-sponsor of the Fast Track to College Act, introduced by Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX). The bill supports and promotes dual enrollment programs in college courses for low-income high school students as a tool for increasing attendance, graduation, and college enrollment rates.

In his videotaped remarks, Fattah drew appreciative laughter from the GEAR UP/National Council for Community and Education Partnerships audience when he said he hoped that "what happens in Vegas in this case doesn't stay in Vegas," referring to the important workshops that staff were attending to increase the success of their programs in raising high school graduation and college-going rates.

Click here to view the complete speech.

Fattah, a Congressional leader in education reform and resource equity throughout his 10-term career, said that for America to maintain leadership in the global economy, every young person must be educated and motivated to achieve great things.

"I want to thank you for what you are doing on behalf of the next generation of leaders for our country," said the Philadelphia Congressman. "The opportunity to go on to college is so critically important in terms of creating the work force and the entrepreneurs and leadership that we're going to need as a country as America competes with billion-plus populated countries like China and India. We can't afford to leave these young people on the sidelines."

The link for the New America Foundation report Rebalancing Resources and Incentives in Federal Student Aid is: http://newamerica.net/publications/policy/rebalancing_resources_and_incentives_in_federal_student_aid. The New America Foundation link is: http://newamerica.net/about/

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah