NY provides grants to help poor college students

ALBANY — New York state is providing $2.5 million in grants to programs that serve thousands of low-income college students. The College Access Challenge Grants will go to organizations run by schools statewide for academic support of students facing the risk of dropping out, training for high school guidance counselors who serve low-income students and run college financing workshops, and other purposes. The state grants funded programs last year that assisted 47,000 students. The state has awarded $250,000 grants to three programs in New York City and two in Syracuse. The state also plans a website aimed for guidance counselors to help all students prepare for and stay in college.