Letter to Dr. Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Education - Grassley, Iowa Delegation Urge Department Of Education To Fix Broken Process That Stunted A Critical Iowa College Readiness Program

Letter

Dear Secretary Cardona,

We would like to express our concerns about the latest funding cycle for Gaining Early
Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) and its impact on students in
Iowa. This program has long helped low-income students in Iowa enter college and succeed in their
studies. Unfortunately, this year's round of funding showed a number of problems with the
application process and left GEAR UP Iowa high and dry. It is imperative that we do not waste tax
dollars with an ineffective application review process, and that funding actually goes to the most
deserving programs.

By all measures, GEAR UP Iowa fits this definition. ACT completion rates in GEAR UP
Iowa schools have shot up from below the average to almost 20% above it. FAFSA completion rates
in these schools increased even as others dropped during the pandemic. The post-secondary
enrollment gap was cut by almost 50%. Further, while most states apply for a waiver to use less state
funding, Iowa has always stretched federal dollars farther under the same grant. And yet, despite these proven results, federal funding has been cut off.

Specifically, many of our concerns with the most recent funding cycle stem from the issues it
has revealed with the review system itself. We have heard reports that 52 out of the 100 + partnership applicants received a perfect score from reviewers. However, the resulting reduction in state awards to account for these review results still left nearly half of those applications unfunded. This defeats the entire purpose of such a score.

It also raises concerns about how reviews are conducted. In part, there seems to be an issue
with the training of reviewers. While it is beneficial that peers are able to look over applications for
funding, it is also vital that there be definitive standards. If reviewers give perfect score after perfect
score, it becomes next to impossible to see which programs are actually most deserving. Even worse,
standards appear to be constantly shifting, with very little oversight for these reviewers.

This lack of a consistent standard has meant that even requirements in statute appear to be
ignored, including the requirement that programs pre-dating the 2008 enactment of GEAR UP -- such
as Iowa's -- be considered over new programs. Further, the law requires that the Secretary take into
account "(A) the geographic distribution of such grant awards; and (B) the distribution of such grant
awards between urban and rural applicants." However, currently, just five states have received 44% of all funding as of the 2021 funding cycle.

All of this has meant fewer kids in Iowa getting help. GEAR UP Iowa has been forced to limit
its work to helping current students rather than accepting new ones. This is especially concerning
because one major purpose of these grants was to help students in rural areas. As a result of the
current haphazard application process, the rural kids being helped by GEAR UP Iowa are being left
behind.

1. Is the Department of Education considering any changes to the review process, such as increased
training for reviewers or definitive guidelines?

2. Even after decisions have been made, we have received reports that things do not appear to be
any clearer. How are appeals to GEAR UP funding decisions handled?

a. How should the GEAR UP appeals process work under current Department of Education
guidelines? Specifically, are applicants required to be notified of how the appeals
process works before -- rather than after -- an application is denied?

3. How is the Department of Education fulfilling the statutory requirements that the Secretary take
into account "(A) the geographic distribution of such grant awards; and (B) the distribution of
such grant awards between urban and rural applicants"?

4. Given the issues with this latest funding round, is the Department considering holding an
additional funding round to rectify these problems or continuing to fund down the existing slate?
We look forward to your response and to working with you to ensure that GEAR UP is
well administered and that grants are given to the most deserving institutions.

Sincerely,[...]