Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced Atascosa high school students are eligible to receive up to $1,583,745 for college readiness program over the next five years from the U.S. Department of Education. Congressman Cuellar helped increase the funding for this program in the Appropriations Committee.

The funds come from Upward Bound grants from the U.S. Department of Education, as part of the TRIO Program. Congressman Cuellar helped increase the funding for the TRIO Program in the Appropriations Committee to $950 million for the 2017 fiscal year – an increase of $50 million from the fiscal year 2016 budget.

Upward Bound grants are designed to help high school students prepare for, gain acceptance to, and afford higher education. They provide weekend tutoring and work on improving high school grade point averages, increasing their test scores, helping with financial aid and scholarship forms, and assisting with the college application process.

For example, in the first year of the program, Palo Alto College will receive $316,749 targeted specifically to serve 77 high school students at schools in Lytle, Jourdanton, Poteet, and Pleasanton, which are located in Congressman Cuellar’s district. The grants are expected to continue for five years in a row, so the college may receive that amount annually for the next five years, for a cumulative $1,583,745.

“I fought to increase the funding for this program, because I know what a difference Upward Bound grants can make for high school students aspiring to higher education,” explained Congressman Cuellar. “I know our local colleges and universities will use these funds to give local students in Lytle, Jourdanton, Poteet, and Pleasanton the opportunity to succeed., I will work in the Appropriations Committee to ensure that it continues for the full five years, so more students can take advantage of this program.”

Dr. Michael Flores, President of Palo Alto College, said, “Palo Alto College has a long-standing tradition of providing access to higher education through our various TRIO programs, dual credit, and early college high school partnerships,” said Dr. Mike Flores, president of Palo Alto College. “We are incredibly grateful to Congressman Cuellar for his support in funding the Upward Bound program, as the grant will further extend our ability to continue providing much-needed services for traditionally underserved students in our community.”

Other schools throughout Congressman Cuellar’s district will also receive grants from this program.