***FY 2008 GEAR UP Partnership Abstracts***

***PR Award Number*** P334A080015

***Grantee:*** Wenatchee School District

***Director\'s Name:*** Carolyn Griffin-Bugert

***State:*** Washington

***Phone Number:*** (509) 662-7745

*Email Address:*
[**GB.C@mail.wsd.wednet.edu**](mailto:GB.C@mail.wsd.wednet.edu)

The Wenatchee School District's GEAR UP Project will expand an existing
GEAR UP program with a proven record of addressing the barriers that
prevent low-income students from achieving their full academic potential
and pursuing higher education. The existing program has shown such
promising results at Orchard Middle School that we plan to expand to a
second middle school with this new grant, while ensuring that the
fledgling supports for change at Orchard stay in place. This project
will also create systemic change at the high school.

This project has seven unique features:

It expands a highly successful model. The Wenatchee School District has
operated a GEAR UP project at Orchard since 2002. Since GEAR UP started,
Orchard has received *five years* of state recognition for making
significant academic progress. This effective model will be expanded to
a second middle school.

It will have long-term systemic implications. To create the highest
potential for systemic change, the project is designed to operate at two
middle schools for five years and the high school for four years.
Increasing the length of programming in each school will increase the
likelihood of long-term systemic change.

It has a guaranteed scholarship component. A guaranteed state
scholarship of up to \$37,000 will ensure that low-income GEAR UP
students have money to attend college.

It is small and focused. Most GEAR UP projects are operated by higher
education and serve multiple school districts. This project serves only
two middle schools in one school district, with the district as the
fiscal agent. The project's small size ensures that it will be highly
flexible and responsive to the needs of students and staff at each
building.

This project is innovative. Student incentives, a successful Homework
Center model, AVID college prep classes, a team of parents trained to
spread college information, and a weekly radio show in Spanish are just
a few of the innovative and successful techniques we have implemented to
engage students and their families.

This project is well-supported by its partners. Nineteen partner cost
share agreements demonstrate strong support by higher education,
business, and community organizations.

This project is cost-effective. 1,400 students will be served at an
average cost of \$400 per student.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080022

***Grantee:*** Regents of the University of California-San Diego

***Director\'s Name:*** Linda Doughty

***State:*** California

***Phone Number:*** (858) 569-1866

*Email Address:* [**ldoughty@ucsd.edu**](mailto:ldoughty@ucsd.edu)

The San Diego Unified School District GEAR UP will enhance an existing
partnership among the University of California, San Diego; the San Diego
Unified School District; the San Diego California Student Opportunity
and Access Program (Cal-SOAP); and, Advancement Via Individual
Determination (AVID), with the addition of new partners: the San Diego
Community College District and the Parent Institute for Quality
Education. The program will begin with the sixth and seventh grade
cohorts (N = 2,150) at Correia, Farb, Kroc, Montgomery and Roosevelt
Middle Schools and continue working with these cohorts as they move to
Pt. Loma, Serra and Madison High Schools, and Kearny and San Diego
Educational Complexes, respectively, through their constituents' senior
year. Goals and objectives are: 1) Increase the academic performance and
preparation for postsecondary education for GEAR UP students; 2)
Increase the rate of high school graduation and participation in
postsecondary education for GEAR UP students; 3) Increase GEAR UP
students and their families knowledge of postsecondary options,
preparation and financing; 4) Schools who implement GEAR UP will have
increases in measures that substantiate development of a multi-cultural
college-going identity; and, 5) There will be an increase in college
environmental climate and culture at participating schools. Proposed
Activities for students: tutorial support, intensive summer academic
programs, test preparation, leadership development, additional counselor
assigned to the cohort at each school, information about financial
aid/college prep courses, college campus tours, 21st Century Scholar
Certificates. For staff: instructional strategies using content
standards, tools to improve the quality of classroom instruction; AVID
training; Counselor Institute; Leadership Training Institute for
principals; planning seminars. For parents: workshops on helping their
children prepare for college, college campus tours, information about
financial aid/scholarships, home visitations, translators/program
materials available in their native languages.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080033

***Grantee:*** Lancaster County School District

***Director\'s Name:*** Robert Lowery

***State:*** South Carolina

***Phone Number:*** (803) 416-8862

***Email Address:*** [rlowery@lcsd.k12.sc.us]{.underline}

The project is based on six years of rigorous assessment and meticulous
planning conducted by a community coalition comprised of over 30 public,
private, civic, and faith based organizations. Several science-based
strategies have been selected to increase the rigor of secondary
instruction and participation in postsecondary education, especially
among low-income students.

Interventions include:

Springboard and integrated system of professional staff development,
vertical teaming, rigorous instructional modules, and assessment-driven
classrooms linking grades seven through twelve;

A rigorous professional development component that increases existing
staff training by over 200 percent each year;

A \$900,000 cash match donated by two private foundations to provide
scholarships to GEAR UP participants;

A Leadership Academy and mentoring component, comprised of monthly
sessions designed to promote peer support for achievement, strengthen
critical thinking skills, expose youth to postsecondary educational
opportunities especially through Historically Black Colleges and
Universities, and recognize ongoing participation and achievement;

Extensive campus-based college awareness activities including a
Science - Math Camp, College Fairs, parent workshops, accelerated
enrollment for juniors and seniors, and field trips to regional
campuses; and

A comprehensive community awareness campaign that includes home
visitation, information sessions, and media component comprised of 16
public service announcement and eight half-hour broadcasts written and
produced in partnership with youth at the target schools.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080046

***Grantee:*** University of Hawaii

***Director\'s Name:*** Roderick Labrador

***State:*** Hawaii

***Phone Number:*** (808) 956-9112

*Email Address:* [**labrador@hawaii.edu**](mailto:labrador@hawaii.edu)

This project builds on the successes and utilizes the best practices
established by a previous University of Hawaii at Manoa GEAR UP
partnership grant (2000-2006). The proposed project will provide 675
seventh graders at Waipahu Intermediate School access to rigorous
academic preparation, financial information, and financial assistance to
enter and succeed in postsecondary education. In addition to tutoring,
mentoring, professional development, parental involvement activities,
and the use of Individual Development Accounts (or IDAs), the project
features two unique components: an innovative language education program
specifically adapted to meet the needs of the large language minority
and immigrant student population, and access to rigorous
college-preparatory courses via online learning. The project enhances
the language education program by fully integrating computer-based
technology into the curriculum. Additionally, it will be one of the few
programs in the state to offer key math, science and language courses
online, many of which are advanced and unavailable at the target
schools.

There are five project goals: 1) increase the academic performance and
preparation for postsecondary education of GEAR UP students; 2) increase
the rate of high school graduation and participation in postsecondary
education of GEAR UP students; 3) increase student and family knowledge
of postsecondary education options, preparation, and financing; 4)
increase training for teachers and other school staff in building on the
strengths of culturally and linguistically diverse students, and in
promoting student access to advanced academic programs via online
learning, and 5) increase community support for students' decision to go
to college. The relationships established and outcomes achieved to date
by the previous University of Hawaii at Manoa GEAR UP project under the
leadership of Dr. Rod Labrador provide strong evidence that an enhanced
and expanded program will be successfully implemented.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080047

***Grantee:*** Nassau Community College

***Director\'s Name:*** Marilyn Monroe

***State:*** New York

***Phone Number:*** (516) 572-3575

***Email Address:*** <MonroeM@ncc.edu>

It would be morally wrong and competitively foolish to foreclose young
people\'s options for higher education based even in part on income, and
yet, that is where we find ourselves today. A nation committed to equal
opportunity and to maintaining its competitive edge in the world cannot
tolerate wasting the talent of so many of its young people so casually.

This proposal is written, therefore, with a sense of urgency for a
continued commitment to the GEAR UP mission, and to provide leadership,
resources and cooperation in directing, shaping and changing the lives
of 1,115 students and their families from the high-poverty,
low-performing schools in the Uniondale School District. The program
will commence serving all 565 sixth and 550 seventh grade students from
Turtle Hook and Lawrence Road Middle Schools and follow their
progression through Uniondale High School with sixth grade students
receiving services through 12th grade as a result of coordinated efforts
among our partners and local capacity-building.

Nassau Community College (NCC), the lead agency, is the largest
community college in the State of New York and is the 10th largest
single-campus community college in the Unite States. The College serves
approximately 22,000 credit students annually on its 225-acre Garden
City campus, and has for many years demonstrated the capacity to deliver
long-term systemic strategies designed to establish high achievement as
a performance standard for low income youth transitioning into middle
school, high school, and college.

NCC\'s commitment to excellence is unwavering, as demonstrated by the
outcome of our 1999 GEAR UP grant with the Westbury School District. The
program design, with its unique components, interwoven enrichment
activities and rewarding incentives transformed the traditionally
negative feelings our students had for higher education into an
enthusiastic attendance in college. We proudly boast that 91 percent of
our graduating seniors in 2006 enrolled in over 74 colleges and
universities throughout the country.

The college, the Uniondale School District, and partners, Calvary AME
Church, Uniondale Public Library, African American Museum, S.O.A.R.,
Cradle of Aviation Museum, Long Island Works, Sunz of Sankofa, and Long
Island Mentoring Partnership, plan to recreate this success by
significantly increasing the number of Uniondale students prepared to
enter and succeed in postsecondary education. To meet our objectives,
NCC GEAR UP will provide intensive, individualized and coordinated
support that includes academic immersion, tutoring, mentoring,
counseling, professional development, parental involvement, curriculum
enhancement, summer programs and college visits. The anticipated program
outcomes are as follows:

For students, it means acquiring college readiness, and knowledge and
skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives. For teachers,
it means community support in pushing students to realize their full
potential. For parents, it means greater involvement and knowledge of
college. For business, it means a ready supply of workers who have
learned the habits of solving problems, thinking clearly, and
communicating with precision. For colleges, it means more first-year
students prepared and ready to attend. For communities, it means a
better quality of life and a better future for everyone.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080058

***Grantee:*** St. John's University

***Director\'s Name:*** Yvette Morgan

***State:*** New York

***Phone Number:*** (718) 7990-2532

***Email Address:*** <morgany@stjohns.edu>

St. John's University, in collaboration and partnership with Region 4,
Joseph Pulitzer and Albert Shanker Intermediate Schools, Long Island
City High School in Queens County, N.Y., the NewYork State Higher
Education Service Corporation, the Consultation Center at Yale
University, HANAC, Inc., Goodwill Industries, and the Center for Science
Teaching and Learning will provide comprehensive services over a
six-year period for a cohort of 800 students entering grade seven at the
aforementioned intermediate schools in September 2008. The objectives
and goals of the services provided are to nurture high expectations for
participating students, assist them in persisting in their studies,
graduating and, ultimately attaining a college or university education.
Services provided will include after school and Saturday tutoring,
homework assistance, mentoring, counseling, computer literacy
instruction and test preparation skills. In addition, through numerous
workshops and activities, students will become versed in all matters
related to college readiness and success. Both parents of participating
students and partnering middle and high school teachers will be provided
separate and appropriate seminars and training consistent with their
respective roles in assisting in the success of participating students.
Intended outcomes include, at minimum, 90 percent of participating
students demonstrating improved academic achievement by the end of eigth
grade; 60 percent satisfactorily completing programs of study enabling
them to enroll in college preparatory high school tracks; 70 percent of
participants enrolled in college preparatory tracks during ninth, tenth
and eleventh grades and 70 percent of project participants ultimately
enrolling in associate or bachelor degree programs following high school
graduation.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080059

***Grantee:*** Morehead State University

***Director\'s Name:*** David Sloan

***State:*** Kentucky

***Phone Number:*** (606) 783-5441

***Email Address:*** <DL.Sloan@MoreheadState.edu>

The East Kentucky Regional GEAR-UP Project is requesting assistance from
the U.S. Department of Education to serve impoverished students in a
six-county region located in the heart of central Appalachia. These
school districts, some of the poorest in the nation, are in desperate
need of help such as that offered by GEAR UP. Morehead State University
is uniquely qualified to serve as the facilitator for this project. Our
commitment to the area is evidenced by our recent Carnegie Foundation
designation as an engaged institution, one of only 75 institutions in
the nation so listed. Our commitment to the area has been further
strengthened by the creation, with the help of the Kentucky Legislature
and the Kentucky Council for Postsecondary Education, of our Center for
Regional Engagement, which is committed to institutionalizing and better
utilizing Morehead State University's resources to help the region it
serves. These factors will allow us to offer critical services to a
severely depressed region in a cost-effective, efficient and thorough
manner.

We have chosen our partners and alliances very carefully so that this
program will pool the greatest possible strength in terms of diversity,
abilities and resources. Our project involves working with faith based
institutions such as local churches and the state Office for Faith Based
and Community Initiatives; non-profit community groups like the East
Kentucky Science Center and the Commonwealth Institute for Parent
Leadership, as well as educational partners such as P-16 councils and
the school partners themselves. The strengths of our partnerships, along
with the project design and implementation strategy has allowed us to
address all four invitational priorities that pertain to partnership
grants.

The goals and objectives are based on a high need for both family and
academic support mechanisms will focus on student development,
teacher/curriculum development, and parent development clusters with a
special emphasis on parental awareness and involvement. Our initial
seventh grade cohort will be 2,105 students. We will continue serving
this group as we add new seventh graders, and by year six this project
anticipates to serve and make a significant impact on 12,312 students.

The major curricular vehicles will be mathematics and science. Services
and activities will be provided by master teachers, local district
personnel, guidance counselors, youth service center directors, college
professors, qualified community persons, and external program
consultants. Featured program elements in science and mathematics will
include the infusion of the latest technology, teacher professional
development, and curriculum reform and improvement. Additional
activities for students and parents will include after-school
activities, conferences, workshops, Saturday programs, field trips, and
summer camps. The academic support component will consist of mentoring,
tutoring, college counseling, family counseling, and financial aid
counseling.

Implied within the design of the proposed project are three necessary
ingredients for the institutionalization of successful program
elements: 1) development-augmentation, 2) evaluation-research, and 3)
diffusion-dissemination. A heavy emphasis will be placed on assessment
and evaluation with a focus on outcomes attainment; all outcomes
assessment activities will be reviewed by an external evaluation team,
and monitored by the highly visible Appalachian P-16^+^ Council.

The need for this project clearly exists, but to succeed we understand
it takes more than a need. That is why we believe the determination,
desire, drive and commitment that we have towards this project makes
this proposal not only worthy, but worthwhile of funding.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080071

***Grantee:*** Yale University

***Director\'s Name:*** Nadia Ward

***State:*** Connecticut

***Phone Number:*** (203) 789-7645

***Email Address:*** <Nadia.Ward@yale.edu>

Yale University School of Medicine is pleased to partner with Bridgeport
Public Schools

in submission of its application to the U.S. Department of Education for
the Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR
UP) grant competition. The primary goal of the initiative is to prepare
all Bridgeport students with the skills and aspiration needed to
graduate from high school and prepared to succeed in a productive
postsecondary educational option of their choice. To accomplish this
goal, three performance objectives have been identified: 1) to increase
students' academic performance and preparation for postsecondary
education; 2) to increase graduation rates and entry into postsecondary
education; 3) to increase students' and there families' knowledge of
postsecondary education options, preparation, financing. All programs
and services are designed to meet each objective.

This proposal seeks to recruit a cohort of 1,447 seventh grade students
from all 14 middle

schools in Bridgeport: Caesar Batalla, Blackham, Wilbur Cross, Curiale,
Dunbar, High

Horizons, Hooker, Longfellow, Marin, Multicultural, Park City, Read,
Roosevelt, and Winthop. An array of programs and services has been
designed to address each performance objective.

Targeted interventions for teachers are designed to improve the quality
of instruction for

middle and high school students in areas of mathematics and English.
Training will involve classroom embedded coaching, professional learning
communities, in-service trainings, and summer institutes. Professional
development for guidance counselors will include training in principles
and best practices of positive youth development to support the
establishment of youth-driven leadership and mentoring programs for
adolescents. Counselors will also participate in training to design,
implement, and manage effective high school transition programs.

Academic enrichment and support programs extended to students include
classroom-based

instruction in affective education, small group workshops, and
individual academic

advising. An array of college and career awareness workshops, college
tours, and tutoring, mentoring, and accelerated summer learning
experiences will also be provided for students. A full range of high
quality college preparatory tools will be available to families to
assist them in navigating the college planning process. Other services
extended to parents will include the dissemination of materials and
workshops on increasing parenting capacities, participation in a parent
advisory council, managing school transitions, and college preparation
and financial aid options.

Finally, support to sustain this initiative has been ensured through
matching partnership

agreements made by a diverse and broad-based collaborative of agencies
that include the

Bridgeport Board of Education, Bridgeport Parent Center, Bridgeport
Public Education Fund, Bridgeport Regional Council, Connecticut
Department of Higher Education, Fairfield County Community Foundation,
Fairfield University, Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation, HCC
Foundation, Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut, Ralphola Taylor
Community Center, United Way of Eastern Fairfield County, and University
of Bridgeport.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080082

***Grantee:*** Board of Education of Prince George's County

***Director\'s Name:*** Sheila Gray

***State:*** Maryland

***Phone Number:*** 301-952-6361

***Email Address:*** <grants@pgcps.org>

Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) seeks federal funding
through the GEAR

UP program to develop a college readiness and preparation program
designed to address low income

students' accessibility and preparation to enter and succeed in
postsecondary education.

PGCPS, the 18th largest school system in the nation, serves 129,000
students, in grades pre-K

through 12. The student population is largely African American (75.4
percent), with a growing

Hispanic student population (16 percent).

In partnership with Howard University, St. Mary's College, University of
Maryland, Explore

Colleges, and First Priority Trailways, PGCPS proposes to support
academic and college

preparatory activities in four middle schools -- Benjamin Stoddard, Buck
Lodge, Drew-Freeman,

and William Wirt and feeder high schools. A 1,378-member cohort of high
poverty students will

participate in the program from seventh grade through 12th grade.

The centerpiece of the STEPS project is *Advancement Via Individual
Determination*

*(AVID)*. This program will be supplemented by high quality professional
development, student

support programs, and parent engagement and empowerment. Student support
programs will be

delivered through the Saturday Academy whose components include academic
support, career

exploration, college exploration, cultural enrichment, PSAT and SAT
preparation, and leadership

development.

STEPS is well-aligned with existing PGCPS improvement efforts to
transform the culture of

low-performing schools and to prepare college ready students. PGCPS is
committed to creating

an environment that fosters and promotes all students entering college
ready to succeed. An

independent evaluator with significant experience in evaluation and
assessment will complete a

comprehensive evaluation of the goals and outcomes of the program.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080107

***Grantee:*** Lafayette Parish School System

***Director\'s Name:*** Burnell LeJeune

***State:*** Louisiana

***Phone Number:*** (337) 521-7112

***Email Address:***
[jblejeune@lpssonline.com](mailto:JBLEJEUNE@LPSSONLINE.COM)

Lafayette GEAR UP will serve 2,302 sixth and seventh grade cohort
students in Lafayette Parish School System, Lafayette, Louisiana. Total
school enrollment of the targeted six middle schools and their five
feeder high schools is 11,127 disadvantaged students in grades six --
twelve. Partners include: University of Louisiana - Lafayette; South
Louisiana Community College; Louisiana Technical College; Smithsonian
Institute; Acadiana Arts Council; Southwest Medical Center; National
Wetlands Research Center; and multiple community businesses. After
extensive planning and collaboration between administrators, teachers,
parents, community organizations and higher education leaders and after
careful review of relevant scientific research, the following program
components were selected for inclusion in our GEAR UP proposal: 1)
student enrichment activities through partnerships with institutions of
higher education and museums; 2) support services for students and
families that utilize SAMHSA model programs and proven strategies; 3)
cohort teacher professional development that reinforces research-based
findings pertaining to student academic performance, student/parent
engagement and teacher quality enhancement, and 4) transition activities
that will help students prepare for and succeed in postsecondary
education. Collaborators made certain that professional development and
curricular activities utilized sustainable models, such as
train-the-trainer strategies, to increase the long-term impact Lafayette
GEAR UP has on our high need schools. LGU will provide extensive
services, leading to improved student performance in core academic
subjects, increased student commitment to education and high rates of
student enrollment in postsecondary education, including universities,
colleges, technical colleges and vocational programs. All cohort
students will have equal access to all program components and special
assistance will be provided to students, as needed, to eliminate
barriers that impede equal access for targeted youth. EduShift, Inc.
personnel will provide quality external evaluation of required
Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) performance measures.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080109

***Grantee:*** Richland School District Two

***Director\'s Name:*** Arlene Bakutes

***State:*** South Carolina

***Phone Number:*** (803) 738-7378

***Email Address:*** <abakutes@richland2.org>

The Richland School District Two GEAR UP Partnership includes:

-   Three middle schools: Dent, Longleaf, and Summit Parkway;

-   Three high schools: Blythewood, Richland Northeast, Ridge View
    Partnerships;

-   Three degree-granting Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs):
    Benedict College, Columbia College, and Midlands Technical College;
    and

-   Two community organizations: Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Greater
    Columbia, Inc., and the North East Richland Ministerial Alliance
    (NERMA).

A dedicated team, comprised of our district superintendent, Chief
Academic Officer, representatives from the partnering IHE and community
organizations, school administration, teachers, parents, and community
members have been involved in gathering components for The Richland
School District Two GEAR UP program application. The program will begin
at the seventh grade level and initially serve 823 students in the
cohort. The program will follow students into the high schools,
increasing the cohort to an estimated 1,167 students, and provide
services and support through the twelfth grade year. The goal of the
program is to significantly increase the number of low-income students
who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. The
objectives of the program are specific: 1) to increase the academic
performance and preparation for postsecondary education of participating
students; 2) to increase the rate of high school graduation and
participation in postsecondary education of participating students; and
3) to increase educational expectations for participating students and
student and family knowledge of postsecondary education options,
preparation, and financing. The program includes many activities which
are focused on student academic success leading to an eventual
postsecondary education experience. With cooperation from the identified
partners and other community organizations, the program will provide
tutoring during the regular school day for students who need additional
support; after-school tutoring and assistance.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080117

***Grantee:*** University of Cincinnati

***Director\'s Name:*** Stephanie Cappel

***State:*** Ohio

***Phone Number:*** (513) 556-3611

*Email Address:*
[**Stephanie.Gilbertson@uc.edu**](mailto:Stephanie.Gilbertson@uc.edu)

The partner schools in this proposal are failing to reach the academic
goals set by No Child Left Behind, having achieved passage rates
averaging only forty percent on the required grade eight Ohio
Achievement Test in core academic subtests. Many of the high schools
have a dropout rate that exceeds fifty percent. The goal is to
significantly increase the number of high-poverty students who are
prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. GEAR UP SCORES
objectives are: 1) Increase academic performance and preparation for
postsecondary education. GEAR UP SCORES students will increase math and
science scores on the standardized Ohio Achievement Tests by five
percent annually; 2) Increase the high school graduation rate and
participation in postsecondary education. High school graduation rates
will increase three percent annually with a seven percent annual
increase in students enrolling in postsecondary education; 3) Increase
knowledge of GEAR UP SCORES students and their families about
postsecondary education options, preparation and financing.
Parents/caregivers and students will demonstrate a fifty percent
increase in knowledge of college access and financial aid as measured by
collaborative assessment and focus groups.

GEAR UP SCORES will follow sixth and seventh grade students at the
partner schools through high school at the majority of the Cincinnati
Public Schools (CPS) high schools. Driven by a passion to see every
student succeed not only in the classroom, but in life, leaders in the
education, business, and civic sectors have come together to form GEAR
UP SCORES. GEARUP SCORES will lead a cultural shift from low
expectations to academic excellence. To achieve the goal of raising
student achievement, supportive strategies will be integrated into a
program that includes implementation of College Board curriculum, a
rigorous secondary school program of study options, high standards, and
effective instructional practices. GEAR UP SCORES will support 4,000
high-poverty students in up to forty of the lowest performing K-8
schools, following them to a minimum of eleven high schools and on to
college. GEARUP SCORES will bring a coordinated support program,
including college admissions counselors, into each of the partner
schools and in year six will connect eligible high school graduates with
committed grants which assure gap funding to cover tuition, books and
fees, and local, regional, and national scholarship funds.

GEAR UP SCORES will provide critical services to support sixth and
seventh grade students and follow them through high school and on to
college. CPS and GEAR UP SCORES will implement Individual Academic and
Career Plans (IACPs) for every GEAR UP SCORES student to ensure
appropriate preparation for college.

Activities: GEAR UP SCORES students will take rigorous, research-based
coursework aligned to the Academic Competitiveness Grant, dual
enrollment courses through partner colleges, receive structured support
to increase high school graduation rates, and have expanded access to
pre-college and college opportunities. Families will have support and
access to information in order to increase the number of students who
aspire to succeed in postsecondary education. Teachers will receive
professional development that relates to specific content areas and
increases cultural competence. The program partners are contributing
\$19,200,000 in cash and services in support of GEAR UP SCORES.

Partners: To accomplish GEAR UP SCORES, the University of Cincinnati has
formed a partnership with CPS, Cincinnati State Technical and Community
College, Strive, the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, Parents for Public
Schools of Greater Cincinnati, the *Enquirer*, the Cincinnati REDS, the
Cincinnati BENGALS, and the City of Cincinnati.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080118

***Grantee:*** Hampton City Schools

***Director\'s Name:*** Donna Woods

***State:*** Virginia

***Phone Number:*** (757) 727-2006

***Email Address:***
[dwoods@sbo.hampton.k12.va.us](mailto:DWOODS@SBO.HAMPTON.K12.VA.US)

Hampton City Schools proposed a GEAR UP program that provides Hampton\'s
children with a personalized education that is both rigorous and
relevant. The program will serve the 2008-09 seventh grade cohort of
targeted schools, Lindsay Middle School and Sprately Middle School,
following these 604 students through to graduation at Hampton High
School and Phoebus High School. Major goals for Hampton GEAR UP are: all
GEAR UP students will increase their academic performance and
preparation for college; all GEAR UP students and their families will
gain the knowledge required to be prepared, both academically and
financially, for and enroll in college; and all GEAR UP students will
increase their attachment to school and respect for peers and adults.

GEAR UP aligns with Hampton\'s reform strategy, guided by the National
Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Breaking Ranks model,
which is reforming its secondary schools into academically rigorous,
personalized learning environments. This GEAR UP program is also aligned
with regional and national workforce development needs and will
emphasize STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)
career exploration. The Hampton GEAR UP partners are the Coliseum
Central Business Improvement District (CCBID), the Educational Policy
Institution, Old Dominion University, the Peninsula Metropolitan YMCA,
and the Virginia Space Grant Consortium.

Outlined below are the five primary components of Hampton GEAR UP and a
brief listing of programs and services within each of these components.

Academic Rigor: In middle schools: implementation of the College
Board\'s SpringBoard curriculum in math and English; in-class, small
group remedial instruction provided by math and reading coaches; and
remedial instruction in English and math at Saturday Academies. In high
schools: summer bridge program for all students prior to entering ninth
grade; implementation of the John\'s Hopkins\' Strategic Reading course
as remediation for ninth graders below grade level and Transition to
Advanced Mathematics course providing a \'double dose\' of math for all
students; students guided to enroll in one of Virginia\'s rigorous
programs of study.

Staff Professional Development: In all schools: facilitation of
Professional Learning Communities; math and reading coaches support
implementation of rigorous curriculum in GEAR UP classrooms with modeled
lessons, co-teaching, and feedback; implementation of Advancement Via
Individual Determination (AVID) and Teacher Expectations for Student
Achievement (TESA) training for teachers and administrators.

Parent Involvement: In all schools: establishment of formal parent
involvement programs with an emphasis on building parent knowledge of
academic and financial preparation for college; implementation of a
Parent Expectations for Student Achievement (PESA) training program; and
an annual parent retreat.

Future Focus: In all schools: establishment of a College and Career
Resource Center staffed by a full-time College and Career Coach; and
implementation of school-year college preparedness seminars, career
exploration activities, campus-based summer programs, and workplace
experience.

Individualized Support: In all schools: an expansion of the AVID program
will bring tutoring support and study skill instruction to every student
in the cohort; an Adult Advocate assigned to each students; and the
implementation of an advisory program that places a small group of
students with a faculty member several times a week for ongoing academic
and personal counseling and support.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080130

***Grantee:*** The University of Texas at El Paso

***Director\'s Name:*** Juliette Caire

***State:*** Texas

***Phone Number:*** (915) 747-5367

***Email Address:*** [jcaire@utep.edu](mailto:JCAIRE@UTEP.EDU)

They University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) proposes a GEAR UP
Partnership that directly addresses the identified funding priorities,
including: 1) improving poor performance in the areas of math, in
particular algebra readiness and completion; 2) increasing achievement
of students with limited English proficiency; 3) increasing low rates of
college readiness and preparedness; 4) addressing a low college going
rate, plus high rate of remediation once they enter postsecondary
institutions; 5) increasing the number of students who enroll and
successfully complete requirements of advance placement (AP) courses; 6)
closing the gaps in dissemination of information to students that
promotes science, technology, engineering and math to girls and
underserved minorities.

UTEP is nationally ranked in key categories as one of the top ten
Hispanic degree producers, according to the U.S. Department of Education
statistics. UTEP is the only major research university in the country
whose students are predominantly Mexican-American. The National Action
Council for Minorities in Engineering has called UTEP\'s College of
Engineering \"a model for other institutions who say that today\'s
minority young people from low-income families can\'t succeed in a
rigorous math- or science-based discipline.\"

UTEP GEAR UP will build on its past successes to address the weaknesses
and gaps in current services. Key components include engaging, tutoring,
mentoring, academic readiness rigorous courses, college preparation
classes (AVID); transition events, promoting advance placement courses,
and exposure to career fields unrepresented by minority and females.

A strong partner collaboration will be the key to accomplishing many of
the objectives. UTEP\'s College of Engineering, a national leader in
Engineering Education of minority students and women, will develop
innovative engineering lessons to increase student interest in math and
a shadow program that for the first time in El Paso will offer the
opportunity to give high school students UTEP course credit. Engineering
Teacher Learning Communities assists teachers in linking technology to
math and science success, equipping students with critical thinking and
problem solving skills.

The program will increase parents\' engagement and awareness of success,
empowering them and impressing upon them the significance of their
support and expectations for their children\'s future. The UTEP GEAR UP
promotes parent and student awareness of the benefits and accessibility
of both college and financial aid. Staff development includes training
in technology-based curriculums for math and science, preparing students
for future success, and strategies for increasing students\' ability to
relate academics to every day experiences.

The comprehensive program of leading initiatives will demonstrate a
model for districts seeking to address higher expectations for students
in achievement on Advance Placement and college readiness tests. The
collaboration between true partners builds both capacity and momentum
for sustainability of best practices that will be provided during the
GEAR UP grant period. The program features continuous quality
improvement via the PLAN, DO, STUDY, ACT evaluation cycle, with
assessment and evaluation built into key features of the UTEP GEAR UP
comprehensive plan.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080135

***Grantee:*** Eastern Arizona College

***Director\'s Name:*** Eldon Woodall

***State:*** Arizona

***Phone Number:*** (928) 428-8409

*Email Address:*
[**Eldon.Woodall@eac.edu**](mailto:Eldon.Woodall@eac.edu)

The schools participating in the Pathway to College (PTC) Project are
located in

northeast and east central Arizona primarily on the Navajo and Apache
Indian Reservations or

their border communities. The project covers eight school districts that
serve a 15,000 square

mile area.

They include:

• Chinle School District • Clifton School District • Ft Thomas School
District

• Gila Regional School District • Miami School District • Payson School
District

• Red Mesa School District • San Carlos School District

Over 10,000 students attend our schools. 62 percent are Native American
and nine percent are Mexican-

American. Over 79 percent qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch. Culture,
family, jobs, and peer

pressures encourage our youth to enter the workforce. Less then 50
percent of the adults hold a high

school degree. In addition, all schools have a similar concern: less
then ten percent of graduating

seniors attend college and of those, three percent graduate.

PTC establishes a comprehensive plan that focuses services on our 865
seventh graders,

the Class of 2014. It addresses three levels of interventions:

• Academic interventions to the youth through after school and summer
classes, tutoring,

enrichment courses and programs, assistance by Student Intervention
Teams, and academic

planning. Academic interventions also address educational reforms by
improving the

quality of instruction, mapping curriculum with informed assessments,
and increasing the

number of college prep courses.

• Youth development: character, personal responsibility and citizenship
development

through increased counseling and counselor training, implementing
Character Counts,

developing youth leadership and mentoring programs, providing college
awareness and visits,

also, financial planning/scholarships.

• Family, community, and business interventions through neighborhood,
chapter and district

parent meetings, community newsletters, parent and volunteer training,
career awareness

(including job shadowing and internships), college awareness, and
financial assistance.

The PTC Partnership has pledged to carry out these interventions and
ensure they make a

difference in the lives of our youth. The two colleges, Eastern Arizona
College (which also

serves as the PTC fiscal agent) and Dine College (which was formed by
the Navajo Nation to

educate its youth), have committed their faculty, facilities, and
resources to lead and support the

reengineering of our schools and work with our youth. In addition, PTC
was able to secure the

support of the following community organizations, tribal agencies and
businesses to co-sponsor

our youth development and family, community, and business interventions.
All partners have an

established history of service to the community.

• New Designs for Learning • Heinfeld and Meech CPA • Dine Dept of Law
Enforcement

• SEABHS • Navajo Medical Center • Arizona State PIRC

PTC will adhere to a continuous improvement approach to evaluation that
is aligned with the National GEAR UP program and its goals and
objectives.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080140

***Grantee:*** Emery Unified School District

***Director\'s Name:*** William Chavarin

***State:*** California

***Phone Number:*** (510) 866-3627

***Email Address:*** <William.Chavarin@emeryusd.org>

The Emery Unified School District (EUSD) GEAR UP project will address
three main problems in the Emeryville, CA, area: 1) academic
underachievement; 2) high drop-out rates; and 3) low rates of enrollment
in and completion of postsecondary education. Our project will serve
students beginning in sixth and seventh grades at Anna Yates Elementary
School, at the California College Preparatory Academy, and at Emery
Secondary Schools. Average sixth and seventh grade enrollment for the
past four years has been 240 students in these grades.

The underlying philosophy of our GEAR UP project is that all students in
our target schools are capable of high levels of academic achievement,
high school completion, and enrollment in and completion of
postsecondary education. A major barrier to student achievement in our
target schools is poverty, and with poverty comes lack of access to the
educational and cultural resources that are available to more privileged
students. To address these barriers, this project will implement a range
of research-based interventions that have been shown to improve student
achievement and increase rates of postsecondary enrollment and
completion. Those interventions include the following: teacher and staff
professional development; Lesson Study strategies; inquiry-based
learning; problem-based learning; academic reading techniques; enhanced
mathematics instruction; problem-based learning; study skill training;
tutoring; mentoring; field trips to educational and cultural sites and
family involvement components.

Objectives and performance measures are aligned with GPR.A indicators
and GEAR UP program measures. The evaluation plan includes a plan to
provide immediate, useful feedback to project stakeholders on student
achievement.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080145

***Grantee:*** Washington State University

***Director\'s Name:*** Genoveva Morales Ledesma

***State:*** Washington

***Phone Number:*** (509) 372-7308

***Email Address:*** <GMorales@tricity.wsu.edu>

Seven school districts, three higher education institutions and nine
community and business organizations came together to develop the
Harvest of Hope GEAR UP Program to address the needs of low-income,
at-risk students in the Columbia Basin of Washington State. Partners
will consist of the following: 1) Higher Education Institutions:
Washington State University, Big Bend Community College, Walla Walla
Community College; 2) Schools: College Place, Dayton, Moses Lake,
Prescott, Soap Lake Touchet, Walla Walla School Districts; 3) Community
Organizations: Digital Learning Commons, Mano y Mano, Puget Sound Center
for Teaching, Observatory, Perametric Technology Corporation, Northwest
Education Loan Association, Abriendo Puertas (Texas A&M University) and
RGI Corporation.

The target schools are located in the Eastern region of Washington
State. The diverse population consists mostly of farmers, immigrants,
first generation Americans and working class residents, many of whom are
undereducated. Among residents at least 25 years old in the counties
where the target schools are located, only 14.7 percent have earned a
bachelor\'s degree or higher, compared to the state rate of 30.5
percent. Up to 50 percent of the target school students do not graduate
on time. The target schools average 38 percent minority enrollment, and
11 percent Limited English Proficiency (LEP) enrollment. Target school
students have low academic achievement rates, high dropout rates, low
graduation rates, and low postsecondary enrollment rates. The Harvest of
Hope GEAR UP will provide these small, rural schools with comprehensive
early intervention services for students, parents, and teachers.

The Harvest of Hope GEAR UP will serve 2,072 students annually, through
high school graduation. Using a strategy formulation process, the
Harvest of Hope Partners selected culturally appropriate, evidence-based
strategies and services that respond to the need of the target school
students, parents, and teachers. Teachers will receive training in
Guided Language Acquisition Design, math, science and Computer Aided
Design. These topics will help teachers work with LEP students and
invigorate math and science curricula. Parents will be trained on
financial aid, academic engagement and postsecondary processes through
Abriendo Puertas (Opening Doors) and Hands on Banking. Students will
receive services through programs such as \"I am Going to College\",
AVID tutoring, after school and summer programs, and yearly cohort
events and activities designed to help inform and prepare students to
enroll and succeed in postsecondary education. Early intervention plans
will also be implemented to help identify students at risk for falling
below grade level, being expelled and /or dropping out.

These annual measurable outcomes will be achieved by the Harvest of Hope
GEAR UP: 1) Increase by ten percent the number of eighth and tenth grade
students passing the state standard WASL test in Math, Reading, and
Science; 2) Increase by 10 percent the number of students taking
advanced Math, Science and English/ Language Arts courses; 3) 80 percent
of teachers receiving professional development in ELL strategies, Math
and /or Science report teaching improvements; 4) Increase by 20 percent
the number of students that graduate high school on time; 5) Decrease
the dropout rate by 10 percent; 6) Increase by 20 percent the number of
students enrolling in postsecondary education; 7) Increase student
knowledge about postsecondary options, financing and application
processes by 20 percent; 8) Increase by 20 percent the number of
students who take the SAT and ACT test; and 9) Increase parent knowledge
about postsecondary options, financing and application processes by 20
percent.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080151

***Grantee:*** The Evergreen State College

***Director\'s Name:*** Kimberly Lees

***State:*** Washington

***Phone Number:*** (360) 867-5136

***Email Address:*** <LeesK@evergreen.edu>

The Evergreen State College "GEAR UP for College" project is based on
the ideals of equity and commitment to ensure that all students leave
school ready for postsecondary education. The project will serve 1,200
students in two cohorts, beginning in the sixth and seventh grades, in
two school districts, one urban (Clover Park School District), and one
rural (Oakville School District). The project's objectives are to: (1)
increase academic performance/preparation for postsecondary education
primarily in the areas of math and reading; (2) increase rate of
graduation and participation in postsecondary education through a
systematic program of student academic and personal development; (3)
increase students' and their families' knowledge of postsecondary
education options, preparation and financing; and (4) expand the
schools' network of community partners to sustain services for
postsecondary education and career preparation.

This project has successfully fulfilled all five Invitational Priorities
delineated in the grant application packet. Full-time Educational
Specialists will work in the six target middle and high schools
providing direct services to students. They will collaborate with school
staff to develop sustainable student-to-student peer mentoring and
tutoring systems within and across schools, and parent-to-parent
resource groups to share high school graduation, and college and career
preparation information. College Preparation Assistants (college student
tutors) will provide on-site tutoring to accelerate student achievement.
Summer institutes for teachers, developed in collaboration and aligned
with the district's school improvement plans, will develop teachers'
skills in teaching conceptual math, reading across the content areas,
and culturally relevant curriculum. Transition symposiums will bridge
middle and high school teachers' dialogue to align curriculum and
address student transition issues. The Northwest Regional Educational
Laboratory (NWREL) will systematically collect data, and direct the
formative and summative evaluation of the project. Along with our six
community school partners in the Clover Park and Oakville School
Districts, we have also solidified twenty-seven community and
faith-based organizations, including Pierce College, Centro Latino,
Educational Talent Search\--Centralia College, Lakewood\'s Promise, Math
Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA), Pierce County Habitat for
Humanity, Junior Achievement, National Association of Blacks in Criminal
Justice, and the Boys and Girls Club who will partner formally with the
project and provide services to help achieve the project's objectives.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080152

***Grantee:*** Washington State University

***Director\'s Name:*** Genoveva Morales Ledesma

***State:*** Washington

***Phone Number:*** (509) 372-7308

***Email Address:***
[GMorales@tricity.wsu.edu](mailto:GMORALES@TRICITY.WSU.EDU)

Ten school districts, two higher education institutions and eight
community and business organizations came together to develop the One
Vision Partnership GEAR UP Program to address the needs of low-income,
at-risk students in the Columbia Basin of Washington State. Partners
will consist of the following: 1) Higher Education Institutions:
Washington State University, Walla Walla Community College; 2) Schools:
Clarkston, Columbia, Endicott-St. Jon. Ephrata, Finley, Kiona-Benton,
North Franklin, Pasco, Paterson, Walla Walla School Districts; 3)
Community Organization: Digital Learning Commons, Puget Sound Center for
Teaching, Learning & Technology, Texas Instruments, Laser Interferometer
Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), Parametric Technology
Corporation, Northwest Education Loan Association (NELA), Abrendo
Puertas (Texas A&M University) and RGI Corporation.

The target schools are located in the Columbia Basin of eastern
Washington State. Most of the target schools are small and rural, and
are geographically and educationally isolated. With an economy primarily
driven by agriculture, this region attracted many immigrant and migrant
farm workers. Much of this region is now economically distressed, and
many of the target school students are children of farmers, immigrant or
migrant farm workers, and are Hispanic, minority and/or limited English
speaking. The target schools average 38.6 percent minority enrollment,
20.4 percent migrant enrollment and 15.9 percent Limited English
Proficiency (LEP) enrollment, compared to state rates of 2.7 percent,
1.9 percent and 7.4 percent respectively. Target school students have
low academic achievement rates, high dropout rates, low graduation
rates, and low postsecondary enrollment rates. The One Vision
Partnership GEAR UP will provide these small, rural schools with
comprehensive early intervention services for students, parents and
teachers.

The One Vision Partnership GEAR UP will serve 2,792 students annually,
through high school graduation. Teachers will receive training in Guided
Language Acquisition Design, math, science and Computer Aid Design.
These topics will help teachers work with LEP students and invigorate
math and science curricula in the target schools. Parents will be
trained on financial aid, academic engagement and postsecondary
processes through Abriendo Puertas (Open Doors) and Hand on Banking.
Students will receive services through programs such as \"I\'m Going to
College\", AVID tutoring, after school and summer programs, and yearly
cohort events and activities designed to help inform and prepare
students to enroll and succeed in postsecondary education. Additionally,
early intervention plans will be developed for students experiencing
difficulties in academics, or having attendance or behavior problems.
Early intervention plans will help identify students who would otherwise
be at risk for falling below grade level, being expelled and/or dropping
out.

These annual measurable outcomes will be achieved by the One Vision
Partnership GEAR UP: 1) Increase by ten percent the number of eighth and
tenth grade students passing the state standard Washington Assessment of
Student Learning (WASL) test in Math, Reading and Science; 2) Increase
by ten percent the number of students taking advance math, Science and
English/Language Arts courses; 3) 80 percent of teachers receiving
professional development in ELL strategies, Math and/or Science report
teaching improvements; 4) Increase by 20 percent the number of students
that graduate high school on time; 5) Decrease the dropout rate by 10
percent; 6) Increase by 20 percent the number of students enrolling in
postsecondary education; 7) Increase student knowledge about
postsecondary options, financing and application process by 20 percent;
8) Increase by 20 percent the number of students who take the SAT and
ACT test; and 9) Increase parent knowledge about postsecondary options,
financing and application processes by 25 percent.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080160

***Grantee:*** Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce Campus

***Director\'s Name:*** Amaury Boscio-Vargas

***State:*** Puerto Rico

***Phone Number:*** (787) 250-7984

*Email Address:* [**aboscio@inter.edu**](mailto:aboscio@inter.edu)

The Inter American University (IAU) of Puerto Rico, the largest private
university on the Island is requesting a GEAR UP Partnership Program to
serve three municipalities from the Ponce Educational Region. We
selected three middle schools under the improvement plan according
¨NCLBA", with very low achievement in the State Standardized Assessment
Test (Pruebas Puertorriqueñas) and with 98 percent or more students
receiving free lunch service. This project is designed to serve 465
eligible participants (450 students and 15 teachers annually). By the
end of 2013, the project will have served 540 participants. Our location
will be in cyber-centers sponsored by the IAU and the Municipality
Majors, who are our partners.

The following objectives are interrelated to provide a participant an
integral development: 1) One hundred percent of participants will be
recruited and selected. 2) Ninety percent of participants will receive
an Integral Development Plan consisting of motivational activities,
cultural experiences, academic help, and career counseling, to enhance
self-esteem to increase their desire to improve academic development and
to successfully pursue and complete high school. 3) Sixty percent of
participants will participate in a Summer Science and Technology
Immersion Program. 4) Seventy percent of participants will demonstrate
better performance in the high school state test in comparison with the
middle school results and maintain or improve their annually GPA. 5)
Annually fifteen (15) teachers will receive technical support and
on-hand experiences in improving assessment techniques and use of the
computer in the educational process.

The USDE funds request are \$365,117 for a cost per participant of \$785
**(**465 participants)**.** The average cost for six years is \$365,117
for a cost per participant of \$689 (530 participants).

***PR Award Number*** P334A080169

***Grantee:*** Research Foundation of CUNY on behalf of Lehman College

***Director\'s Name:*** Herminio Martinez

***State:*** New York

***Phone Number:*** (718) 960-8934

***Email Address:*** [herminio.martinez@lehman.cuny.edu]{.underline}

The Bronx Institute of Lehman College is the lead organization and
fiscal agent of Bronx Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for
Undergraduate Programs Initiative (BIGGEARUP). The following 17 partners
join us in this effort: a local educational agency (The New York City
Department of Education); two community-based organizations (Aspira of
New York City and Mosholy Montefiore Community Center); five college
programs in addition to Lehman (Brown University, Columbia University,
Fordham University, Harvard University, and Johns Hopkins University);
seven not-for-profit organizations (The After School Corporation,
Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, The Congressional
Hispanic Caucus Institute, the Experiment in International Living, The
New York Public Library, The United Way of New York City, and The Urban
Assembly Schools); and two businesses (The College Board and
Peterson\'s- A Nelnet Company). They will match equally the \$2.0
million requested from the U.S. Department of Education.

Our six-year initiative for 2,500 low income, predominantly
African-American and Hispanic students from 14 Bronx middle schools
address: 1) Low academic performance (as few as two percent of students
pass English Language Arts; as few as four percent pass math in some
schools); 2) Low graduation and college attendance rates for students of
color (up to an 80 percent dropout rate for African-Americans and
Hispanics); 3) Professional development and technology needs. The follow
objectives address these gaps:

Objective 1 - increase achievement and preparation for college;
Objective 2 - increase students\' and families\' postsecondary
knowledge; Objective 3 - enhance teacher quality; and Objective 4 -
support long-term sustainability once federal funding has ceased.

Students will be prepared for college through program activities
including tutoring, enriched technology, college awareness workshops,
and residential summer programs for college credit. Metis Associates
will evaluate progress towards project objectives as well as the success
of Bronx GEAR UP strategies.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080178

***Grantee:*** Duval County Public Schools

***Director\'s Name:*** Kristen Larsen

***State:*** Florida

***Phone Number:*** (904) 858-6089

***Email Address:***
[larsenk@dreamsbeginhere.org](mailto:LARSENK@DREAMSBEGINHERE.ORG)

Creating positive outcomes for nearly 1,000 Duval County students in
middle schools and communities, where large achievement and income gaps
exist, is exactly what the Dreams for Our Future GEAR UP proposal is
designed to do. Target schools where selected on the basis of:
free/reduced lunch percentages; level of economic disadvantage; and
state assessments of academic performances. Middle school students from
Matthew Gilbert, Paxon, Northwestern, and Ribault will matriculate to
Andrew Jackson and Jean Ribault High Schools\--two of the district\'s
most academically challenged high schools.

To \"gear up\" students for the opportunities that will contribute to
their postsecondary success, Duval County Public Schools will
collaborate with each of the city\'s four colleges and universities
(University of North Florida, Jacksonville University, Edward Waters
College, and Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ), community
support agencies (Project Reach, Communities in Schools), parents,
community members, and district educators to develop a comprehensive
program. Over a six-year period, partners will provide a wide range of
project services that include guidance counseling/support, career
planning, mentoring, college awareness activities, parent involvement,
and academic/tutorial support. Long term expectations include the
following: 1) Improved academic preparedness and performance; 2)
Increased graduation rates and enrollment in institutions of higher
learning; 3) Increased awareness and participation among students and
parents in programs and activities that support an understanding of
postsecondary enrollment requirements, funding options, and
opportunities; and 4) Increased scholarship opportunities for the high
school graduates, as supported by collaborations with the local
colleges, city and community agencies, and school districts.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080181

***Grantee:*** Victor Valley College

***Director\'s Name:*** Patricia Bejarano-Vera

***State:*** California

***Phone Number:*** (760) 245-4271

***Email Address:***
[bejarano-verap@vvc.edu](mailto:BEJARANO-VERAP@VVC.EDU)

Victor Valley College is a two-year community college located in the
High Desert region of San Bernardino County, 90 miles east of Los
Angeles. It serves an area of 2,200 square miles and a population of
300,000. Designated as a \"financially distressed area\" by the
California Community College Chancellor\'s Office, the GEAR UP
Partnership program will serve as the catalyst and facilitator for all
activities, strategies, and events that are designed to achieve
improvement in the academic performance of students from the target GEAR
UP schools. Only ten percent of parents whose children attend the target
schools have obtained a college degree, compared to 28 percent in the
state. Dropout rates from high schools are far above the national level,
exceeding 18 percent across the District and well above 20 percent in
some locales. Working collaboratively with the High Desert Cal- PASS
(Partnership for Achieving Student Success) GEAR UP will assist in
effectively increasing early college awareness and readiness, by
providing consistent and timely academic advising, tutoring, mentoring,
and a host of other comprehensive services. Serving 1,475 students
beginning in the sixth and seventh grades at five eligible middle
schools, the project will provide critically needed educational and
support services to eligible low-income middle school students. The
overall goal of the project is to enable students to stay in school,
become academically successful, and take appropriate courses to attend
college. Schools will promote rigorous coursework, and students\'
progress will be monitored to ensure that they will be academically
prepared for college. Through concerted efforts, parents and teachers
will become actively involved in preparing students for college, as well
as in promoting continuous improvements in instruction and curriculum.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080182

***Grantee:*** San Jose State University Research Foundation

***Director\'s Name:*** Andrew Hughey

***State:*** California

***Phone Number:*** (408) 924-3636

***Email Address:*** [arhughey@aol.com](mailto:ARHUGHEY@AOL.COM)

The mission of the San Jose GEAR UP Community Achievement Project is to
substantially increase the number of low-income students who are to
enter and succeed in postsecondary education. San Jose State University
(SJSU) is the designated fiscal agent for the local partnership that
includes San Jose Evergreen Community College District and five school
districts: East Side Union High School, San Jose Unified, Alum Rock
Elementary, Franklin-McKinley, and Mount Pleasant School Districts. The
community partners are San Jose Everygreen Community College District;
Silicon Valley Higher Education Roundtable; Santa Clara County Office of
Education; AVID-Region V; City of San Jose Role Model Mentor Program;
After School All Stars of Great San Jose, and California Youth Outreach.
The targeted population consists of 3,006 multicultural, multilingual,
low-income students who score well below the national average in
mathematics and reading. They are primarily English learners and first
generation to go to college.

The project will facilitate cross-sector collaboration as a community of
learners. The focus for students will be academic rigor and success
through participation in after school, Saturday and summer academies.
The focus for students together with parents will be increased college
awareness and career information. The professional development will
focus on integration teams across the grade levels, action-centered
teaching strategies for teachers and accelerating academic language
development by using research-based methods like vocabulary and language
development; guided interaction; metacognition and authentic assessment;
explicit instruction; meaning-based context and universal themes;
modeling, graphic organizers, and visuals. School site teams of
counselors and parent education liaisons will meet with students and
parents to review achievement plans to monitor the progress in their
six-year plans.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080187

***Grantee:*** Fort Peck Community College

***Director\'s Name:*** Paula Brien Firemoon

***State:*** Montana

***Phone Number:*** (406) 768-6300

***Email Address:*** <pfiremoon@fpcc.edu>

Goals and Objectives:

Goals: it is a goal of Project EAGLE to significantly increase the
percentage of low-income students on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation
who are adequately prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary
education.

Objective 1: During the project period of September 1, 2008 through
August 31, 2014, Project EAGLE will increase academic performance for
four cohorts of students at three partner schools (12 cohorts total), as
measured by at least 75 percent of selected students passing pre-algebra
at the end of their seventh grade year and at least 75 percent of
selected students passing Algebra 1by the end of their ninth grade year,
as evidence by project records, student grades reports, monthly reports,
internal/external evaluations, partnerships formed, and comparisons to
baseline data.

Objective 2: During the project period of September 1, 2008 through
August 31, 2014, Project EAGLE will increase the rate of high school
graduation for four cohorts of students at three partner schools (12
cohorts total), as measured by at least 85 percent of participants
graduating from high school and at least 70 percent of participants
entering a postsecondary educational institution, as evidenced by
project records, student grade and graduation reports, college entrance
letters, monthly reports, internal/external evaluations, partnerships
formed, and comparisons to baseline data.

Objective 3: During the project period of September 1, 2008 through
August 31, 2014, Project EAGLE will increase the knowledge level of
postsecondary education options, academic preparation, and financing for
four cohorts of students at three partner schools (12 cohorts total).

Number of Students to be Served: We will serve four cohorts (grades four
to seven in year one in each of three schools for a total of 12 cohorts.
All told, Project EAGLE will serve 291 students in each year of the
project.

Target Schools: Identified partners include Fort Peck Community College
(applicant), Brockton Public Schools (target school), Frazer Public
Schools (target school), Poplar Public Schools (target school), Fort
Peck Education Department (community organization), Daya Tibi Wellness
Center (community organization), External Evaluation Firm (business
community), and other partners both within and external to the
boundaries of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.

Activities and Services to be Implemented: Activities and services to be
implemented will include, but not be limited to, presentation of college
readiness activities, supportive services, alignment of curricula with
challenging standards, professional development, Kids to College style
training, and data gathering to document the project\'s successes and
challenges.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080190

***Grantee:*** Texas A&M University

***Director\'s Name:*** Linda Castillo

***State:*** Texas

***Phone Number:*** (979) 845-0891

***Email Address:*** <lcastillo@tamu.edu>

Students from low income families and recent immigrants in Bryan, Texas
are currently ill-prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary
education. Last year only 22 percent of Bryan High School senior's class
took the SAT and half that many took the ACT; within these groups,
students were identified as being below the state average in college
readiness. The Bryan Independent School District (ISD) GEAR UP
Partnership Project will provide integrated
school-community-postsecondary support services for a cohort of
approximately 987 students who will be in the seventh grade in the fall
of 2008; these students represent the entire population of seventh
graders in Bryan ISD who attend four middle schools: Long Middle School,
Rayburn Middle School, Austin Middle School, and Davila Middle School
(opening fall 2008). These middle schools feed into two comprehensive
high schools: Bryan High School, Rudder High School (currently only
serving ninth grade) and one specialized high school: Bryan Collegiate
High School, which focuses on college preparation and currently only
serves ninth grade. Partners involved in this project include Bryan ISD,
Texas A&M University, Blinn College, The City of Bryan, Project Unity,
and local churches.

The purpose of the project is to significantly increase the number of
students in Bryan ISD who are prepared to enter and succeed in
postsecondary education. In particular, the project will target students
from low-income families, students who are English language learners,
and students with disabilities; all of these populations are
significantly underrepresented in college preparation activities and
college attendance. The goals of the project are as follows: 1) To
remove psychological and institutional barriers regarding high school
graduation and higher education. 2) To provide services so that all
Bryan students are academically prepared for postsecondary education,
including (a) ensuring that all students, including all subgroups, score
at least at the proficient level on the TAKS examination, (b) achieving
equity among student subgroups in terms of access to advanced programs
(dual credit, advanced placement) and extracurricular activities, (c)
reducing the drop-out rate across all student subgroups, (d) to provide
quality, appropriate staff development related t o enhancing success for
low performing in Bryan ISD to faculty, administrators, and counselors.
3) To increase awareness of and decision-making skills regarding college
matriculation and careers among students and families. 4) To develop a
model for a sustainable school-community-postsecondary education
partnership.

Project activities that will address these goals include personal and
group counseling, including career counseling; summer enrichment
programs; tutoring, including bilingual tutoring, and mentoring; family
outreach activities (which occur at neutral locations such as churches
within the community) related to secondary and postsecondary education,
adolescent issues, careers, interfacing with agencies that serve
students with disabilities, and other topics as requested by
participating families; college visits; and workshops for students
regarding financial aid, college choices, and postsecondary education
application processes.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080196

***Grantee:*** Ogden City School District

***Director\'s Name:*** Amy Vance

***State:*** Utah

***Phone Number:*** (801) 737-7904

***Email Address:*** <Vancea@ogden.sd.org>

Students and schools served: Ogden City Schools (OCS) in Weber County,
Utah proposes a GEAR UP program: Own Your Future (OYF). OYF will serve
875 students in three middle schools\--Mount Ogden, Highland, and Mound
Fort\--who will advance into two high schools\--Ben Lomond and Ogden.

Project Partners: OCS will partner with Weber State University and the
Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College. OCS meets invitational priority
number two by partnering with the following community-based
organizations: Boys & Girls Club of Weber-Davis; Youth Impact; The Ogden
School Foundation; and the Ogden/ Weber Chamber of Commerce.

Identified gaps and weaknesses: OCS personnel identified the following
district- and school-level gaps and weaknesses through the use of
various student data: Gap 1: Low performance and poor college
preparedness in core subject areas; Gap 2: Low attendance, high dropout
rate; Gap 3: Low graduation rate; low college enrollment, graduation
rates; and Gap 4: Few opportunities for pro-social involvement

Goals: Together with key partners, OCS established six program goals,
summarized below:

Goal 1: Increase the postsecondary preparation of project students (GPRA
objective one); Goal 2: Increase the academic performance, attendance of
project students (GPRA Objective one); Goal 3: Increase the rate of high
school graduation and postsecondary participation of project students
(GPRA Objective two); Goal 4: Increase students\' and families\'
knowledge of postsecondary education options, preparation, and financing
(GPRA Objective three); Goal 5: Increase the educational expectations
and planning activities of project students; and Goal 6: Increase the
preparation of project teachers and staff to teach and serve students.

Activities: OYF\'s project activities and services are directly linked
to project goals and the identified gaps in OCS\'s current services. The
19 proposed activities fall into the following categories: 1) tutoring;
2) after-school and Saturday programs; 3) summer programs; 4) mentoring;
5) college and financial counseling; and 6) professional development and
curriculum improvement.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080209

***Grantee:*** San Leandro Unified School District

***Director\'s Name:*** Jaliza Eagles

***State:*** California

***Phone Number:*** (510) 332-2151

***Email Address:*** <jeagles@sanleandro.k12.ca.us>

For the past five years, San Leandro Unified School District, located in
Alameda County, California has provided interventions and services in
direct alignment with the GEAR UP program and goals. We have
participated in on-going reform work related to equity, culturally
relevant pedagogy, and frontloading for English learners, all designed
to close the achievement gap for African American and Latino students
and improve the achievement of all of our students. We have seen some
success through this work and are certain that with additional support
we will truly be able to close the achievement gap and prepare our
students for postsecondary educational opportunities.

The GEAR UP San Leandro Partnership included the following agencies:
Chabot College; University of California, Early Academic Outreach
Program (EAOP); Pacific Educational Group (PEG); R.T. Fisher Educational
Enterprises (RTF), Inc.; Girls Inc.; St. Leander Church and Creekside
Church. . . The initiative will target a cohort of 630 students, all
SLUSD seventh graders attending our two middle schools, John Muir and
Bancroft. It will build upon existing programs and services at these
schools and will continue to provide services as they proceed through to
San Leandro High School, the Districts only institution serving students
in grade nine through twelve. The goal of the partnership are to: 1)
increase academic achievement; 2) introduce college expectations for all
of our students; 3) increase their college preparedness; 4) increase the
number of students that meet a-g requirements for admission; 5) increase
students\' and families\' knowledge of the financial and educational
environment; and 6) increase the number of students that enroll in
colleges and universities.

The services provided by the partnership will consist of multi-level
programming, providing services to the entire cohort as well as targeted
interventions for students that require more support. The project will
include the following six components that were developed from best and
promising practices: 1) Equity Work; 2) Increased in school supports; 3)
professional development; 4) Career Technology Education; 5) Tutoring ;
6) Out-of-School Time Academic and Enrichment Programs; and 5) College
Awareness and Preparedness Training.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080234

***Grantee:*** The University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

***Director\'s Name:*** Scott Wilson

***State:*** Oklahoma

***Phone Number:*** (405) 325-2228

***Email Address:*** <Scott.Wilson@ou.edu>

The K20 Pathways to SUCCESS (Sowing University and College Connections
Earlier in Students\' Studies) is grounded on the K20 Center for
Educational and Community Renewal\'s (K20 Center) model for systemic
long-term change and builds on existing partnerships between the K20
Center and 36 schools across the state of Oklahoma. SUCCESS targets
whole school reform based on individualized school performance plans
that are continually refined by leaders, educators, families, students
and other community stakeholders. Within the first year of the project,
SUCCESS will provide additional resources and services to a minimum of
3,542 seventh grade students living in rural, ethnically diverse,
poverty stricken areas of the state. Given that the program targets
whole school reform, this number will increase exponentially as changes
take place. SUCCESS builds on the K20 Centers four-phase systemic whole
school reform model and will provide long-term, sustainable change. The
educational environment will be transformed into high-achieving lifelong
learning centers characterized by professional learning communities,
classroom instruction from high quality teachers, technology-enriched
authentic learning experiences, innovative instructional methods that
engage student in a rigorous curriculum, and high-level parental and
community involvement that prepare students for success in postsecondary
education. SUCCESS seeks to increase the number of low-income students
who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education by
increasing: 1) the percent of cohort students who are academically
prepared for postsecondary education upon graduation from participating
schools; 2) high school graduation rate and postsecondary education
enrollment rates of cohort schools; 3) current and future educational
success expectations for cohort students by students, parents and
teachers; and 4) participating students\' and the families\' knowledge
of postsecondary education options, preparation, and financing.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080249

***Grantee:*** University of California-Riverside

***Director\'s Name:*** Frances Calvin

***State:*** California

***Phone Number:*** (951) 827-4739

***Email Address:*** <Frances.Calvin@ucr.edu>

The Early Academic Development Programs (EADP) at the University of
California, Riverside (UCR) proposes to work together with the Pomona
Unified School District, the City of Pomona, the Pomona Youth and Family
Master Plan and ACT, Inc. to provide a GEAR UP Project at the three
neediest middle schools in the district: Fremont , Marshall (John) and
Simons. The Youth and Family Master Plan consists of youth, residents,
and community service providers who are dedicated to the development of
a comprehensive plan that links existing programs, identifies the need
for new services, and provides a vehicle for the dissemination of
information to Pomona youth and their families.

The City of Pomona is located 28 miles east of the City of Los Angeles
and is in Los Angeles County. Pomona has a high percentage of families
living below the poverty level, high unemployment rates and low median
family income. (U.S. Census) Though there are nine colleges and
universities within a 21 mile radius of Pomona, the residents have very
low educational attainments and the number of students meeting the
subject requirement for admission to a public university in California
is also very low. In 2005, only 28 percent of graduates from Ganesha and
17 percent of graduates from Garvey had completed said requirement.
(California Dept of Ed) Two of the three (Fremont and Simons) had 92
percent of their students participating in the free and reduced lunch
program in the 2006-2007 school year. Marshall also had an extremely
high rate of participation (91 percent). (California Dept of Ed)
Overall, the Pomona Unified School District had 75.8 percent of their
students participating in the Free/Reduced Lunch Program.

Most of the services provided through the Project are modeled after the
UCR-Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) and have been proven to work.
EAOP, a sub-division of the Early Academic Development Programs (EADP)
office, has worked with middle and high school students for over 30
years. Research shows that EAOP students are more prepared for college
than students who do not participate in the program. Data show that EAOP
students surpass students statewide in terms of coursework and exam
completion, UC eligibility, college enrollment and college persistence.
(<http://www.eaop.org/outcomes>) Unfortunately, funding for these
valuable state-funded programs has continuously been reduced and through
this grant, the partnership seeks to continue to provide services to
these deserving students.

The residents of Pomona will greatly benefit from the resources and
experiences that the Project will provide. The project will begin by
providing services to students in the seventh grade and their parents at
each of the selected schools. The cohort will continue to receive
services until they graduate from either Garvey or Ganesha High Schools,
the two main feeder schools. In total, the project will provide services
to 1,042 students, their parents and teachers. In order to meet the
three objectives of the GEAR UP program, the project will focus on
addressing the lack of motivation and enthusiasm that students have
towards doing well in school. By participating in the project, students
will become motivated to do well in school, receive tutoring assistance,
and obtain information regarding the benefits of a college education,
the college-going process and financial aid.

In addition, the project will also pay particular attention to the
crisis that is currently facing low-income, young male students in
education. According to a study done by the U.S. Department of
Education, females are less likely to repeat a grade and to drop out of
high school and female high school seniors tend to have higher
educational aspirations than their male peers. (2004) By providing
positive male role models the project will encourage male students to
stay and do well in school. Additionally, the project will institute a
more systemic approach that will provide services to the entire cohort.

***PR Award Number*** P334A080257

***Grantee:*** California State University - Fullerton

***Director\'s Name:*** Mark Kamimura-Jimenez

***State:*** California

***Phone Number:*** (714) 278-5579

***Email Address:*** <mkamimura-jimenez@fullerton.edu>

GEAR UP - Anaheim is a partnership between California State University,
Fullerton (CSUF) the Anaheim Union High School District, target schools
Sycamore and South Junior High Schools, Anaheim and Katella High
Schools, and key community and business partners. Located in Anaheim,
California, the target schools face a number of serious challenges:
poverty, high percentage of English learners, low academic achievement,
lack of sufficient academic support to ensure students succeed in a
rigorous college preparatory curriculum, low higher education
expectations and aspirations, and an inability to effectively engage and
inform parents. As a result, the majority of students are not
college-eligible and do not pursue higher education. To address these
challenges, GEAR UP - Anaheim will provide students with comprehensive
services and activities to ensure their educational success, including
tutoring, academic counseling, workshops, a summer program, educational
and cultural enrichment activities, college tours, career exploration,
parent outreach, and professional development for target school math and
English teachers. The program will serve a cohort of 1646 students
beginning in the seventh grade at Sycamore and South Junior High School,
and monitor and track a substantial number through graduation from
Anaheim and Katella High Schools. Through its services and activities,
GEAR UP - Anaheim will: - Improve math, science and English abilities
and increase: retention, college preparatory curriculum completion, high
school graduation, and the number of students who apply for
postsecondary education. - Inform all participants and their parents
regarding college options, admissions, and financing, and promote
parental involvement in school planning. - Raise higher education
expectations among both students and their families.