MANCHESTER, N.H. —

With just days to go until funding is eliminated, Gov. Kelly Ayotte is being pressed by community leaders over the loss of federal grants that help low-income students get into college.

The U.S. Department of Education is poised to abruptly cut off millions of dollars in grant funding at the end of the month for the TRIO and GEAR UP programs, which are helping more than 1,000 low-income students in New Hampshire get into college and be successful there.

Ayotte was asked about the funding cuts as she gave her first address as governor to the New England Council. She said she has been trying to bring the issue up personally with the secretary of education.

"We are reaching out, not only by letter but by call, reaching out to the secretary to say, 'What can we do?'" Ayo

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