Akron Public Schools says the federal government has canceled almost $5 million in funding for the federal GEAR Up grant, which provided college and career mentorship for about 1,500 students.

District officials said they have filed an appeal, but if that's unsuccessful, seven employees who provide mentoring to students on their future careers will be laid off when the grant ends on Oct. 1. The grant is in the fifth year of a seven-year cycle, Superintendent Mary Outley said during Monday's Board of Education meeting. She said the high school students receiving mentorship through the program are now in their sophomore and junior years.

"These students are at a critical point in their lives ... They're the first in their families who even considered college," Outley said. "They began this

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