Manchester school leaders seek state and federal help after cuts to college-access programs

District leaders told the Board of School Committee that they were recently notified of the loss of three federal or federally supported community funding sources — GEAR UP, Educational Talent Search (ETS) and the New Hampshire Statewide Family Engagement Center — that support college- and career-readiness programming and the district’s Welcome Center.

Assistant Superintendent Nicole Doherty said those funds support middle- and high-school college access programming and part of the college and career pathways director role. "We were notified of the loss of federal funding from our community partners that have been instrumental in supporting some key district initiatives," she said.

Board members, staff and students described likely impacts on vulnerable and first-generation students. A student who identified herself as a participant in ETS described services the program provided — college tours, help with applications, SAT/AP fee waivers — and said the cut is "very devastating" for seniors who rely on the program in their final year. Doherty and the superintendent said they are working with finance to identify alternate funding sources.

Committee member Turner moved that the board sign and send letters to the governor and the U.S. Department of Education advocating for reinstatement of the funds; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. Several members noted the cuts had a rapid timeline: district staff said the defunding notice arrived late in the prior week and that funds were at risk of being removed by September.

The board will send advocacy letters and seek to coordinate with the congressional delegation and other local school boards to press for restoration or replacement funding. Administrators said they will continue to evaluate local options to sustain critical services and will report back to the board.