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Program Partners
School Districts
Higher Education Partners

Project GRAD USA is proud to partner with the following agencies and organizations to make PA Challenge possible.

PROGRAM PARTNERS

• U.S. Department of Education
ED (The U.S. Department of Education) was created in 1980 by combining offices from several federal agencies. ED’s mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. ED’s 4,200 employees and $68.6 billion budget are dedicated to:

• Establishing policies on federal financial aid for education, and distributing as well as monitoring those funds.
• Collecting data on America’s schools and disseminating research.
• Focusing national attention on key educational issues.
• Prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal access to education.

PA Challenge has access to U.S. Department of Education funds and resources through the College Access Challenge Grant Program (CACGP). It is a formula grant program, meaning that individuals cannot apply directly; rather, the grant is made to agencies following a formula determined by Congress.

For more information, please visit http://www.ed.gov.
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• Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)
The mission of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is to lead and serve the educational community to enable each individual to grow into an inspired, productive, fulfilled lifelong learner.

Within the PDE, the PA Office of Postsecondary and Higher Education works with the General Assembly, the Governor, the Secretary of Education, and Pennsylvania higher education professionals to maintain and support a thorough and efficient system of postsecondary and higher education. Specific tasks include:

• developing and administering educational policies within the state.
• analyzing the success of the state’s higher education goals.
• providing advice about postsecondary and higher education to state leadership.
• administering state and federal postsecondary and higher education laws.
• helping develop and administer a master plan for higher education.
• collecting and disseminating postsecondary and higher education research.
• developing and administering joint educational programs with other agencies.
• providing leadership in assuring equal postsecondary and higher education opportunity.

For PA Challenge, PDE will ensure that the grant complies with federal CACGP regulations, oversee effective program delivery and quality control, and support buy-in with each of the targeted school districts.

For more information, please visit http://www.pde.state.pa.us.
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• Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA)
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Astasisnce Agency (PHEAA) is the state’s student financial assistance agency—a national leader in providing access to affordable higher education. Established in 1964, PHEAA has six regional offices throughout the state. Through these offices, PHEAA provides information to counselors, parents and students on state funded aid programs, of which the largest is the PA state grant program, which gave out more than $386 million of student aid in 2007–8.

PHEAA offers state residents help completing key financial aid forms, such as FAFSA (the Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as well as workshops for parents and counselors. The agency maintains two websites: www.pheaa.org and www.educationplanner.org.

For PA Challenge, PHEAA is coordinating its information services with Project GRAD USA, offering financial aid information services throughout Pennsylvania as well as offering financial aid workshops, training and materials tailored to the needs of the individual target schools. 

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PA CHALLENGE SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Eight high schools and their feeder middle schools were chosen for PA Challenge as they are located in some of the most economically disadvantaged areas in Pennsylvania. In addition, school leadership at the targeted school has demonstrated a commitment to improving high school graduation and college attendance for their students.

• Chester School District
Chester High School
• Lancaster School District
J.P. McCaskey High School
McCaskey East High School
• Philadelphia School District
Roberts Vaux High School
Sayre High School
South Philadelphia High School
Strawberry Mansion High School
• Woodland Hills School District
Woodland Hills High School

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HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNERS

The following colleges and universities are partnering with PA Challenge to make good on their commitment to increasing college access and opportunity throughout the state. Partnership opportunities range from offering college tours to hosting enrichment courses and summer institutes. Many possibilities are available; if you think your institution might be interested, please contact Nikia Owens at nowens@projectgradusa.org. 

• Cheyney University
• Millersville University
• Community College of Philadelphia
• HACC (Central Pennsylvania’s Community College)
• Villanova University

See Higher Education Spotlights
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