H.R.887 Graduation Really Achieves Dreams Act or the GRAD Act

Title: To provide for Project GRAD programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [2] [D-NY-4] (introduced 2/7/2007)      Cosponsors (15)
Latest Major Action: 6/5/2007 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.Highlights: A grant to Project GRAD USA, a nonprofit educational organization for improving high school graduation and college attendance and completion rates for disadvantaged students, to provide technical assistance and support through subgrants to existing and new programs that implement a set of integrated education reform services. Requires the grantee to select only subgrantees that serve a substantial number or percentage of low-income students.

Grant eligibility: A grant can be awarded to a nonprofit educational organization that has as its primary purpose the improvement of secondary school graduation and college attendance and completion rates for disadvantaged students, to implement and sustain the integrated education reform services.

ASPIRA Policy Position

ASPIRA supports programs that promote high school graduation rates especially in low-income communities.

ASPIRA is concerned, however, that directing funds to a single entity (Project GRAD USA) to provide subgrants,  rather than providing for a direct grant program, offers this entity with a special status.  ASPIRA supports a direct grant program with the same purpose.