Education Department Polishes GEAR UP Grant Application Forms
Published Date: 6/25/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Education is updating the forms for GEAR UP grants that help states and local groups support students preparing for college. This affects state, local, and tribal governments who apply for these grants, with about 156 applications expected yearly. Comments on the changes are open until July 27, 2026, and the update aims to make the process clearer and less time-consuming.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
GEAR UP supports low-income students
GEAR UP provides discretionary grants to states and partnerships to help eligible low-income students (including students with disabilities) at high-poverty middle and high schools. Grantees serve an entire cohort beginning no later than seventh grade and follow them through graduation and, optionally, the first year of college.
GEAR UP application forms narrowed
The Department updated the GEAR UP Partnership and State grant application packages to include only program-specific forms and removed standard OMB-approved forms and unrelated information. The collection estimates 156 annual responses and a total of 8,816 annual burden hours; comments are due July 27, 2026.
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