Gwinnett Technical College's Gwinnett Advancement Program has received a $5,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Northeast Georgia to support the program's work with at-risk youth within Gwinnett County Public Schools as a drop-out prevention measure.
The Gwinnett Advancement Program is a career-and-college readiness program for at-risk youth, ages 16 – 21, formed through a partnership between Gwinnett Tech and the Atlanta Regional Commission in 2007. GAP offers GED preparation at Gwinnett Tech for out-of-school youth, and began serving in-school-youth this year as a drop-out prevention measure. GAP works with GCPS's Office of Advisement and Counseling to support summer school graduation efforts and provides on-going support to youth at Phoenix High School.
"Being able to intervene and provide support before a high school student leaves school is crucial and very often enables the student to continue on to earn their high school diploma or their GED credential – a huge factor in future employability and overall success," says Dr. Glen Cannon, president, Gwinnett Tech. "Our partnership with GCPS and Phoenix High School ensures at-risk students have access to support through the Gwinnett Advancement Program to complete their high school credential and transition to college."
The grant funds will be used to pay for books, credit recovery, training, graduation fees, college application fees and other necessary expenses for students in the GAP–GCPS partnership program.
Gwinnett Tech and the Gwinnett Advancement Program were one of 33 non-profit organizations receiving a total of $160,217 in grants from the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia as part of the Foundation's 30th Anniversary celebration.
