Henderson County Public Schools and Blue Ridge Community College officials hope a new financial aid program launched by North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper will give more high school seniors the opportunity to go to college.
Governor Roy Cooper has announced $51.4 million in new funding to help students access and complete postsecondary education as North Carolina recovers from the pandemic.
The funding is the state’s share of the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund, federal dollars that aimed to help school districts, postsecondary institutions, or other education-related entities address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bulk of the money $44 million will be earmarked to help students access college and earn degrees starting this fall. Another $5 million will support mental health initiatives at postsecondary institutions statewide. And $2.4 million will be used for equity-focused initiatives.