Gear Up

The Examiner's Alexandra Rocha reports that over the next five years our middle schools will receive 11 million dollars in federal and state grants to pay for tutoring and counseling services after school, on weekends, and in the summer.

Eligible students are those from households where fewer than half the adults over 25 have completed high school. The district believes such students are disadvantaged.

The program is called Gear Up, an acronym for its full title Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. The goal is college readiness. It's apt that it will help in middle school: high school help is often too late.

Real dollars

Real dollars are available for working women who want to go back to school but need to maintain income. The _Talbots Women's Scholarship Fund _ gives $100,000 annually to women who got their high school diploma or GED at least 10 years ago. Five women get $10,000 grants. 50 more get $1000 each.

The AARP Foundation Women's Scholarship Program will give up to $5,000 to as many as 100 women who are pursuing more education or new job skills.