TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE – The Upward Bound program at Marist College is reported to be ending after 50 years. Several sources have said that the program has lost its federal funding.
This story as been updated to include clarification from the Poughkeepsie City School District (PCSD) and the opinion of Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro.
According to the current application on the Marist website, “Upward Bound is a Federally-funded college preparatory program, serving high school students in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District and the Poughkeepsie City School District. We operate an after-school tutorial program in each district and have a six-week residential program at Marist College during the summer.”
The Poughkeepsie college received funding for Upward Bound in the amount of $657,533 per year for 2017 through 2022. The money provided services for 147 students each year for the five years.
In 2017, the Upward Bound office in the Poughkeepsie City School District was closed. School Board President Felicia Watson claimed the office was being closed to provide equality. When the office was being closed, she said “It’s unfair to other programs to give an office in the building to Upward Bound but not to them.” Since closing the Poughkeepsie High School office, program participation has declined. School Superintendent Dr. Eric Rosser has since told Mid-Hudson News that “As far back as 2019, Upward Bound has had an office at Poughkeepsie High School.”
“The information is so new that we have not received communication from Marist College regarding this matter,” Dr. Rosser said, adding “If confirmed, the district will make adjustments to its college readiness planning for PCSD students to guarantee that the programming that will potentially be lost through the Upward Bound program does not adversely impact the district’s work in preparing students to be college and career ready.”
Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro was upset by the funding cut and said “For 50 years this program has helped city kids prepare for higher education. This is shocking news to those involved, it is a poor decision and it cannot be left to stand. We are convening community leaders to demand answers and support immediately.”
