Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced the allocation of $5.6 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds to support GEAR UP Iowa Future Ready partner districts across the state. The funding marks the launch of GEAR UP Iowa Future Ready, which builds upon the established federal GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) Iowa program, dedicated to significantly increasing the number of students prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. The four-year program will be implemented in the following 11 partner districts: Centerville, Clinton, Columbus Junction, Davenport, Davis County, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Saydel, South Tama and Storm Lake. GEAR UP Iowa Future Ready will guide students in those schools from ninth grade through their first year of postsecondary education. The program provides students and their families with various services to prepare them academically, financially and inspirationally to enroll and succeed in postsecondary education. Iowa received two previous rounds of GEAR UP funding from the U.S. Department of Education, in 2008 and in 2014, totaling $39.2 million. In 2020, 88% of GEAR UP Iowa graduates had plans to complete a two-year or four-year degree program or other postsecondary training and education. The Iowa College Student Aid Commission administers GEAR UP Iowa Future Ready in partnership with the Iowa Department of Education and other state agencies, local school districts, postsecondary educational institutions, and community, business and industry organizations.