The telecommunications giant AT&T today  announced that it is committing $250-million over five years to expand its program aimed at helping more students graduate from high school and preparing them for college and careers. The program, called AT&T Aspire, was started in 2008.

The expanded effort has three components.

* Technology. The corporation will sponsor contests for mobile-application developers to foster the best solutions to problems in the education system. It will also support projects to incorporate computer-game features, social media, and other platforms into education programs.

* Career skills. The company’s mentor program will pair AT&T employees with high-school students who are at risk of dropping out and expand its partnership with Junior Achievement to helps students learn skills they will need in jobs and adult life.

* Math and science. AT&T also plans to make grants to education groups that are working to teach youngsters in low-income neighborhoods about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.