**Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs
(GEAR-UP)**

**FY 2007 Project Abstracts for Partnership Grants**

**Texas A & M International University**

**P334A070030**

# Abstract

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU), Jim Hogg CISD, San Diego
Independent School District, Benavides Independent School District,
Carrizo Springs Consolidated Independent School District, Crystal City
Independent School District, Zapata Consolidated Independent School
District, International Bank of Commerce Zapata, and International Bank
of Commerce Hebbronville are partnering for the proposed "Creating a
Vision III**"** GEAR UP grant application. The target area schools deal
with a complex set of challenges; chief among them is educating students
who come from low-income, Spanish language dominant homes and whose
parents have limited education themselves. "Creating a Vision III**"**
will serve 930 seventh grade students from Hebbronville Junior High
School, Bernarda Jaime Junior High School, Benavides Secondary School,
Carrizo Springs Junior High School, Zapata Middle School, Newman Middle
School, and Fly Junior High School and continuing to Hebbronville High
School, Carrizo Springs High School, Crystal City High School, Zapata
High School, Cotulla High School, and San Diego High School,
respectively.

The Program goals are: 1) to strengthen existing academic strategies and
implement new programs to raise academic standards, provide academic
support for students, improve teacher training, and increase student
knowledge of higher education opportunities and admissions; and 2) to
develop a parental education program to enable parents so they can
provide a nurturing academic environment for their children and make
them aware of the higher education opportunities. Various activities
have been designed to enable more students to stay in school, study hard
and complete the appropriate courses that will prepare them for college.
"Creating a Vision III**"** will provide academic assistance,
counseling, tutorial services, cultural events, a summer component, and
educational activities to supplement their regular school program before
they enter college.

Project Director: Dr. Julio F. Madrigal

Telephone Number: 956-326-2720

E-mail Address: <jfmadrigal@tamiu.edu>

### San Francisco Unified School District

### P334A070032

# Abstract

The San Francisco Unified School District GEAR UP Partnership grant
project will serve over

3,000 students. Services will commence at eight middle schools and
continue on to high school. The students are predominantly from the
southeastern section of the city and these eight middle schools have a
combined average of 68 percent free or reduced lunch eligible. The
Academic Performance Index (API) averages 648 for these schools. The
educational attainment of the adult population is very low, with less
than 50 percent of the adults over 25 years old completing high school,
and just 30 percent who have finished college.

The services will include: 1) Student population receiving academic
tutoring, academic counseling and advising, enrichment courses in
science, college/career and financial aid counseling, college
presentations, visits and summer camps; 2) Families being provided with
on-going information about graduation and college planning, support in
literacy issues, basic computer skills, and college-to-career
opportunities; 3) Teacher Professional Development provided in school
wide positive behavior supports, strengthening teaching skills in
science and math, and assisting teachers in ensuring that students have
the skills necessary to engage in college level work; and 4) Community
involvement establishing of a closer linkage between the neighborhood
businesses, and postsecondary institutions, schools and families in an
effort to enhance and sustain communication and education in the
community.

# 

Project Director: Rickey Jones

Telephone Number: 415-695-5543

E-mail Address: <jonesr1@sfusd.edu>

# Research Foundation CUNY on behalf of Lehman College/CUNY

**P334A070040**

#### 

#### Abstract

The Bronx Institute of Lehman College is the lead organization and
fiscal agent of the South Bronx Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness
for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR-UP). The following partners join us in
this effort: a local educational agency (The New York City Department of
Education---Region Two); two community-based organizations (ASPIRA of
New York and Mosholu Montefiore Community Center); three colleges
(Fordham University, Harvard University, and Yale University/EXPLO \--
Exploration Summer Program); four not-for-profit organizations (United
Negro College Fund Special Projects, The After School Corporation, The
New York Public Library, and Experiment in International Living); and
two businesses (The College Board, and Thomson-Peterson Learning). The
Lehman College Foundation will match contributions to a Scholarship
Trust established as part of this program to meet Invitational Priority
Two.

Our six-year initiative serves 2,500 low-income, predominantly
African-American and Hispanic students from 15 Bronx middle schools by
addressing: 1) Low academic performance (as few as two percent of
students pass English Language Arts; as few as four percent pass Math);
2) Low graduation and college attendance rates for students of color (up
to an 80 percent dropout rate for African-Americans and Hispanics); and
3) Professional development and technology needs.

Objectives to 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.

# 

Project Director: Herminio Martinez, Director

Telephone Number: 718-960-8934

E-mail Address:
[herminio.martinez@lehman.cuny.edu](mailto:HERMINIO.MARTINEZ@LEHMAN.CUNY.EDU)

**New Mexico Highlands University**

**P334A070059**

**Abstract**

The Rural Northern New Mexico GEAR UP (RNNM GEAR UP) is a partnership of
twenty-three school districts, one institution of higher learning---New
Mexico Highlands University---and two educational alliances. The student
population in the target schools is 95 percent Hispanic or Native
American in one of the highest pockets of poverty in the United States.
The project's goal is to increase the number of students graduating from
high school and enrolling in postsecondary education by addressing the
following needs: low percentage of students taking rigorous classes;
English language deficiencies; high class sizes; high counselor/student
ratios; lack of tutoring, parent involvement, role models and mentors;
inadequate teacher experience and training; and lack of student
motivation.

The project will provide professional development, instructional
support, tutoring, Saturday and summer programs, mentoring, college
planning, and financial aid planning. Intended outcomes include
increasing, by 10 percent each year, the percentage of students passing
state testing and the percentage of students in advanced classes; by 20
percent each year, the percentage of students taking SAT and ACT tests;
by 100 percent students' and by 50 percent parents' knowledge about
postsecondary education; by 20 percent each year parents' knowledge of
career options made possible by post-secondary degrees; by 20 percent
each year the cohort's graduation rates and enrollment rate in
postsecondary education, by 50 percent, the number of parents completing
the Free Application for Federal Student Aid; and decreasing by 10
percent each year, the dropout rates of cohort students.

Project Director: Jose C\' de Baca, Director

Telephone Number: 505-454-3532

E-mail Address: <jcdbaca@nmhu.edu>

### Amarillo College, Texas

**P334A070063**

#### Abstract

Amarillo College, serving as the lead in a twenty-six-member
partnership, submits this

GEAR UP proposal to serve seventh graders to their high school
graduation. Students come from three partner school districts located in
the Texas Panhandle where poverty rates are double the national average,
almost 80 percent of children are low-income, up to 48.1 percent of
adults have not graduated from high school, and less than four percent
hold bachelor's degrees or higher. Within our partner schools, up to
89.5 percent of students are eligible for free and reduced lunch,
student assessments of minimum skills fall well below state averages,
and more than 37 percent of ninth graders drop out before high school
graduation.

Five middle and/or junior high schools and four high schools will
participate in the partnership, along with three higher education
institutions, three private foundations donating more than \$400,000 for
GEAR UP scholarships, and twenty community organizations providing a
variety of services.

The project design draws on effective practices of similar partnerships.
The project's objectives and services will have a significant impact on
students, parents, and teachers by increasing: 1) academic achievement
and preparedness, as well as college enrollment; 2) motivation,
retention, and engagement; 3) parent and family involvement in school
activities; 4) professional development opportunities for teachers; and
5) long-term partnership investment in programs that support
disadvantaged students. Services to be delivered will include
after-school and summer academic programs; tutoring, mentoring, and
advising; educational and cultural field trips; professional development
for teachers; and parental involvement activities.

Project Director: Cara Crowley

Telephone Number: 806-345-5518

E-mail Address: <crowley-ci@actx.edu>

# Fayetteville State University

**P334A070115**

## Abstract

Fayetteville State University (FSU), a Historically Black College and
University (HBCU) is proposing a GEAR UP Partnership project. The FSU
GEAR UP Partnership (GEAR UP) will initially serve 1366 sixth and
seventh grade students in Cumberland County, North Carolina, using the
cohort model. In years two, three and four of the GEAR UP Partnership,
an additional sixth grade cohort will be added, bringing the total
students served to 3,373 by year four. GEAR UP will continue to follow
all 3,373 students as they transition into college and postsecondary
education.

Statistics show that Cumberland County has nearly the highest rates in
the state in high school dropouts, teen pregnancies, child abuse, and
juvenile violent crime. All GEAR UP middle schools are failing to meet
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards. Only nine percent of seventh
grade students in the proposed GEAR UP middle schools are enrolled in
pre-Algebra.

This GEAR UP Partnership will prepare low-income, at-risk students to
enter and succeed in postsecondary education by:

1)  Increasing academic performance and preparation for postsecondary
    education through early intervention.

2)  Increasing the rate of high school graduation and participation in
    postsecondary education by providing tutoring, mentoring, outreach,
    and other supportive services.

3)  Enhancing educational expectations for students by increasing parent
    and student knowledge of postsecondary education options,
    preparation and financial aid.

4)  Creating systemic change within the schools by providing
    professional development and programs that will be continued after
    the funding ends.

This proposal offers services grounded in evidence-based practices as
cited and includes effective strategies consistent with previous state
and partnership GEAR UP initiatives.

Project Director: Dorothy Holmes

Telephone Number: 910-672-1722

E-mail Address: <dholmes@uncfsu.edu>

**Long Beach Unified School District**

**P334A070119**

**Abstract**

Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD), with more than 96,000
students, is the third largest school district in California. The
District faces a number of challenges, which disproportionately impact
the increasingly low-income, minority student population the District
serves. The schools targeted for GEAR UP intervention (13 middle schools
and six high schools) are the District's highest-poverty schools, and
are comprised of an ethnically-diverse, high-need student population.
Sixty-four percent of cohort students are Latino, 17 percent are African
American, seven percent are Asian, four percent are Caucasian, two
percent are Filipino, two percent are Pacific Islanders, two percent are
Native Americans, and percent are of other ethnicities. Forty-four
percent of the students are English Language Learners.

The LBUSD GEAR UP project will move greater numbers of students in the
cohort into the college-going pipeline by: (1) increasing students'
academic performance and preparation for postsecondary education; (2)
increasing the rate of high school graduation among GEAR UP students;
and (3) increasing students' and their families' knowledge of
postsecondary education options, preparation, and financing.

The proposed intervention will begin with 13 middle schools and guide
these students as they transition to the six target high schools. To
meet the objectives of the GEAR UP project, the District will provide
students with high-quality academic enrichment opportunities, and
enhance classroom instruction and academic counseling through a host of
professional development services for teachers and counselors at the
target schools.

Project Director: Jerry Stover

Telephone Number: 562-997-8456

E-mail Address: <jstover@lbusd.k12.ca.us>

8/17/2007