Davids Announces Funding to Improve Academic Performance and Graduation Rates for 60 Students in Kansas City, Kansas

Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced the United States Department of Education (DOE) awarded $287,538 to Kansas City Kansas Community College's (KCKCC) Upward Bound program which works to improve academic performance, graduation rates, and college readiness among low-income and first-generation college students. Over the next five years, the grant will total approximately $1.4 million, supporting 60 students annually.

"As a first-generation college student, I know how difficult preparing for college can be without a family member who did it first. That's why I am incredibly thankful students in our community are supported by KCKCC's Upward Bound program," said Davids. "This new federal funding will give dozens of high schoolers and their families the resources needed to achieve academically and grow personally. I'll keep supporting college-readiness programs like Upward Bound and others in our community."

"Being awarded the Upward Bound grant allows Kansas City Kansas Community College to expand services into schools to help those students who need it the most," said Dr. Greg Mosier, President of Kansas City Kansas Community College. "These expanded services, built around intensive and intentional academic and student support services, will help increase high school graduation rates and college preparedness. Upward Bound program expands KCKCC's ability to positively impact workforce needs and educational readiness of underserved students in our community."

Davids has been a supporter of college-readiness programs since being sworn into Congress, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the pandemic, both college readiness and enrollment declined nationally as students had less in-school support. In response, Davids advocated to House leadership and the House Appropriations Committee for the inclusion of TRIO funding in COVID-19 supplemental appropriations so programs like KCKCC's Upward Bound could continue operations.

KCKCC's Upward Bound will provide social, academic, and career development for students from F.L. Schlagle High School and Washington High School, both Kansas City Kansas Public Schools. The participating students will receive comprehensive academic assistance and overall support for themselves and their families, including advising, tutoring, study skills workshops, test taking support, and college and financial aid application assistance.

Federal funding for this grant was authorized by H.R. 4502, which Davids voted to support in 2021.