CCRI Wins $476K Grant to Help High Schoolers Study for College

WARWICK, RI — Staying in school and preparing for college aren’t easy tasks for most students, so RI’s representatives in Congress are celebrating a $476,854 federal Educational Talent Search grant for the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) bolstering scholars’ study and career search skills.

U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline have announced a $476,854 federal Educational Talent Search grant for the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI).

The Rhode Island Educational Talent Search (RIETS) program at CCRI provides a range of support services for students in grades 6 through 12, including help with study skills, test preparation, career counseling, and assistance in applying for financial aid.  While the program serves the entire state, it provides extensive and comprehensive services in three communities (Central Falls, Providence, and Woonsocket), and is projected to reach over 1,000 students in the coming year.

“CCRI does a terrific job of reaching out to students and providing them with opportunities for academic development. This federal funding will enable CCRI to reach more young people, help them stay in school, and achieve their goals in the classroom and beyond,” said Senator Reed, who helped secure a $60 million increase for Fiscal Year 2016 for the TRIO programs, including Talent Search, as a member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee.

“Every student deserves the opportunity to pursue higher education,” said Whitehouse.

“Low-income students, particularly those in low-performing schools, face an uphill battle when it comes to pursuing higher education. We must break the cycle and provide the resources and support necessary to put young people on a path to success,” said Langevin, who co-chairs the Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus. “I commend CCRI on the progress of the Talent Search program thus far, and I congratulate them on winning this grant so that they can continue to identify, support, and empower promising students who will become Rhode Island’s educators, innovators, and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.”

“Too often, promising low-income middle and high school students fall behind and ultimately miss the opportunity to go to college,” said Cicilline. “CCRI’s Rhode Island Education Talent Search prevents these students from falling through the cracks by identifying them at an early age and providing them the resources they need to make a successful jump to higher education.