Don't listen to them. Visits by the university leaders were coordinated by the school district's GEAR UP Office. The acronym stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. GEAR UP is now in the second year of its five-year federal grant benefiting students at Jefferson, Marshall and Hamilton. The grant offers this year's seventh graders specialized curriculum, mentoring and parent involvement to prepare them for college.
Students learn about the cost of college, financial aid and academic requirements.
Only 23 California school districts received a GEAR UP grant.