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EAR UP Partnership grants

are competitive five-year matchinggrants that support early intervention programs designed to increasecollege attendance and success and raise the expectations of low-incomestudents. A successful GEAR UP Partnership project requires the fullcooperation and commitment of all members of the Partnership. Whileeach partner makes a distinct and separate contribution, the success of thePartnership depends on working and planning as a team.The GEAR UP Pa rt n e rship grant is unique among fe d e ral early intervention programs in that it focuses on cohorts of low-incomestudents, rather than on distinct individual students, and the cohortsbegin no later than the seventh grade. It requires partnerships amongcolleges and universities, schools, and outside organizations, and requiresa dollar-for-dollar match to ensure commitment and build capacity. All of these unique requirements of a GEAR UP Partnership grant compelschool systems and postsecondary institutions to focus on systemic change;it ensures that all students are held to high standards and receive thenecessary academic core curriculum that is needed to go to postsecondary education and succeed. Partnership grants are encouraged to providescholarships to students, but are not required to do so.GEAR UP Partnerships are designed to understand and address the needsof their disadvantaged communities and implement effective systemicreform to ensure that all students are prepared to succeed in college.Partnership grants must sustain long-term systemic reform that meets theacademic and college preparation needs of an entire cohort of studentsrather than the more traditional pull-out program that only assists selectedstudents.Education is a "family matter." For students, it is hard work, and it requiresa plan. For parents and families, it requires support and involvement. Forschools from K-16, it demands high expectations for ALL students and thespirit of collaboration. For businesses, it takes commitment, throughmentoring and communication with schools about what businesses expectin the workplace. For religious, community and arts organizations, itmeans being a place you n gsters can turn to for information and encouragement. Everyone is part of it; everyone shares responsibility for it;e veryone depends on it; and everyone wins because of it. GEAR UP Partnership grants provide a unique and historic opportunity for early intervention and systemic change that no federal program hasdone before.

Partnership

Introduction

Pa rt n e rs h i p

G ra n t s

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Gadsden GEAR UP Partnership seeks toaddress the needs of 410 students who entered the seventh grade atCory, Disque, and General Forrest Middle Schools in 1999, andsupports them through to Litchfield, Gadsden, and Emma SansomHigh Schools. Principal activities of this project include: individualcounseling for students and parents; tutoring; a pro fe s s i o n a ldevelopment program for involved teachers; suggestions for new teaching methodologies; a college/career education and visitation program for students and parents; and, a mentoring program involving local college students and professionals.Students who successfully complete the program will have accomplished the following: passed Algebra I and Geometry witha C or better; successfully completed the required Alabama High School Graduation Exam; and, be on schedule in meetingpostsecondary entrance requirements.

STRATEGY

Since the program is based on preparing students for college and the work force, the GEAR UP staff wantedthem to see first-hand the duties and responsibilities of their chosen fields. During the summer program, a group of thirty GEAR UP students were afforded the opportunity to job shadow three local businesses and organizations. These students were guided by experienced professionals who explained the pros and cons of the area and gave advice on coursework needed to attain the proper skills. Following the time spent with the employees, students were more aware of therequirements for the job and, therefore, could make more intelligent college and career choices.

ADSDEN

TATE

OMMUNITY

OLLEGE

19991999

Contact: Carl Byers, Jr.Phone: (256) 549-8212Email: cbyers@gadsdenst.cc.al.usTotal Students Served: 410PROJECT OVERVIEW

During the course of five years, the GEAR UP project will develop and implement an academic year Early Awareness program to provide participants with the support neededto pursue a postsecondary education. The students entered theprogram in 1999, as sixth graders at the local elementary and middleschools in Perry County, and will continue to participate in GEAR UP until they complete their tenth grade at high school.The project seeks to address the needs of 700 to 1,000 students, and their parents, through individual counseling, tutoring,financial aid advising, career assessment and exploration, mentoring, professional development, and various workshops.Students who successfully complete the program will have accomplished the following: 1) passed Algebra I with a C orbetter; 2) scored at, or above, the 50th percentile in reading, math, and language on the Stanford Achievement Test; and 3)completed an individual course guide in meeting college entrance requirements.

STRATEGY

At the beginning of the year, a group of eighth grade participants helped recruit new sixth grade participants.The students planned a pep rally for potential participants at both middle schools. New applicants were given mini pom-poms, in their school's color, with GEAR UP imprinted on them. As a result, 140 students signed up for the program. Aftersurveying the eighth grade participants, it was found that the students enjoyed the responsibility of organizing the pep rally and being mentors to the new participants.

ALLACE

OMMUNITY

OLLEGE

ELMA

Contact: Betty BentleyPhone: (334) 876-9244Email: betty@wccs.cc.al.usTotal Students Served: 1,000

Pa rt n e rs h i p

G ra n t s

PROJECT OVERVIEW

During 2000-2001, the 160 seventh gradestudents at Holt High School participated in GEAR UP activities. Ineach of the next four years, a new seventh grade cohort will beincluded for a total of 800 participants. The strength of the programis greatly enhanced by the involvement of primary partners andincreasing parental participation in the education of st udent s . Academic inte rvention initiatives focus primarily on improving reading and mathematics proficiencies and onstrengthening science backgrounds. Additional program features include: 1) a comprehensive tutoring and mentoringsupport program; 2) one-on-one counseling for students and parents; 3) professional development for high school faculty toensure innovative teaching strategies; and 4) continued college and career education programs through presentations andprinted materials. Students are involved in earning GEAR UP points by participating in extra-curricula activities for whichthey receive incentives. Successful implementation of the program will result in: 50 percent of students attaining grade levelreading skills and 50 percent attaining above grade level reading and mathematics skills; students and parents knowing how to prepare for postsecondary education and career planning; and students having improved their social and life skills.

STRATEGY

To identify tutors for seventh and eighth-graders, presentations were made to four education classes at theUniversity of Alabama's College of Education, and professors were asked to require students to perform their volunteerhours with the GEAR UP project. The result was over sixty college students available for tutoring sessions three days each week, allowing for greater hands-on involvement with the more than seventy students who are tutored. At Holt HighSchool in 2001, 50 percent of seventh and eighth grade students are at grade level reading and 20 percent are at above gradelevel, reading and math skills. The project staff is in the planning stages of training eighth-graders to tutor sixth graders atHolt Elementary School.

NIVERSITYOF

LABAMA

20002000

Contact: Sharon Chambers GordonPhone: (205) 348-2342Email: scgordon@sa.ua.eduTotal Students Served: 800PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Northwest Arctic GEAR UP initiative,Getting Ready Together, is a partnership among the University of Alaska Fairbanks-Chukchi Campus, the Northwest Arctic BoroughSchool District, the Maniilaq Association, the NANA RegionalCorporation, the Northwest Arctic Borough, and Cominco Alaska,Inc. The Paqnaliq Atauchikun project will be an education modelthat can be replicated to prepare students for success in remote rural Alaska, a region where 95 percent of the population iscomprised of low-income, bilingual Inupiaq Eskimo.The project complements a statewide and regional reform effort, the Alaska Quality Schools Initiative. The primary emphasis is to support students in their efforts to meet high academic standards and to pass the Alaska High SchoolGraduation Qualifying Examination. By passing this exit exam, students will meet postsecondary entrance requirements. Without passage, opportunities to enter the military or attend a four-year college or a two-year community college will notexist. The Paqnaliq Atauchikun project focuses on early intervention by providing services and support to students andtheir parents. There are three service areas: 1) academic enhancement; 2) counseling services; and 3) financial aid.Through the early intervention, GEAR UP staff not only expects students to pass the Graduation Qualifying Examination,but also to be well-prepared for, and succeed in, continuing education, training, and life.

STRATEGY

The Annual Seventh Grade Student and Parent Campus Visit allows students and parents the opportunity totour the University of Alaska-Chukchi Campus, the Alaska Technical Center, the Maniilaq Health Center, and variousbusinesses for educational events. The purpose of this special campus visit is to promote early awareness of opportunitiesfor students and to inspire and motivate them to succeed in school. During their visit, students and parents are encouragedto participate in job shadowing to gain first-hand experience in a career area of interest. This year, 160 students, forty-fiveparents, and seven teachers participated in the event.

ORTHWEST

RCTIC

OROUGH

CHOOL

ISTRICT

Contact: Carolyn WoodhousePhone: (907) 442-3472 ext. 252Email: cwoodhouse@nwarctic.orgTotal Students Served: 824