Academic Excellence and College
Access for ALL Students
HISTORY
• The 1998 Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act
established the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for
Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) to enhance the collegegoing rates of low-income students.
• Nationwide, this middle school reform program has served over
1.2 million students in 47 States, the District of Columbia, and
three territories in its first six-year grant cycle.
• Over 1.2 billion of federal dollars was expended on GEAR UP
since 1999 that is matched by at least the same amount in funds
from partners.
TYPES OF GRANTS
• LOCAL PARTNERSHIP GRANTS: Middle schools, in
partnership with higher education institutions, focus on
cohorts of low-income students beginning no later than
seventh grade. GEAR UP partnerships follow those students
and deliver services to them through high school graduation.
Today, there are 280 GEAR UP Partnerships in the country.
• STATE GRANTS: Initiatives at the state level that develop
and support effective interventions for secondary school
students. Today, there are 36 State Grants nationwide.
GEAR UP IN CALIFORNIA
• In the first six-year cycle of GEAR UP,
California had the most partnerships (43) and the
largest State Grant in the country.
• In 2007, there are 34 partnerships and a State
Grant, known as the California GEAR UP
Program.
THE CALIFORNIA GEAR UP PROGRAM
• The California GEAR UP Program is
sponsored by the California Education Round
Table at the designation of the Governor.
• The University of California was selected by
the Round Table to be the fiscal agent for this
grant.
ORGANIZATION OF THE CALIFORNIA GEAR UP PROGRAM
GOVERNOR
California Education Round Table (CERT)
Intersegmental
Coordinating
Committee (ICC)
California
GEAR UP Governance
Committee
GEAR UP Program Director
Executive Assistant
Administrative Assistant
Family Initiatives Project
Coordinator
Student Services Model
Project Coordinator
Project Assistant
Administrative Program
Manager
(2) Administrative
Assistants
University of
California
Budget Analyst
(7) Regional Coordinators
WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE
CALIFORNIA GEAR UP PROGRAM?
“To develop and sustain the organizational capacity of
middle schools to prepare all students for high school and
higher education through a statewide network of support for
the adults who influence middle school students, specifically
their counselors, faculty, school leaders and families. As a
result of this expanded capacity, a higher proportion of
students, particularly from backgrounds and communities
that have not historically pursued a college education, will
enroll and succeed in higher education.”
WHO ARE THE COLLABORATORS IN THE
CALIFORNIA GEAR UP PROGRAM?
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ACT, Inc.
Association of Independent California
Colleges and Universities
CA Association of Student Financial
Aid Administrators
California Community Colleges
California Department of Education
California Post Secondary Education
Commission
California State University
California Student Aid Commission
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College Board
Education Trust-West
Parent Institute for Quality
Education
The Education Financing
Foundation of California
University of California
Western Association of Educational
Opportunity Personnel (WESTOP
TRIO Programs)
HOW DOES THE CALIFORNIA GEAR UP PROGRAM
FUNCTION?
 In order to establish and sustain a college-going culture at
middle schools, the program focuses on:
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A College-Going Culture
Rigorous Academic Courses
High Quality Teaching
Intensive Academic and College-Going Support
Multicultural College-Going Identity
Family-Neighborhood-School Supports
 In the first six-year cycle, the California GEAR UP Program
served 196,000 students in 187 low-income middle schools
in 80 districts throughout the state.
SCHOOL-BASED SERVICES FOR 42 MIDDLE SCHOOLS
 Professional Development
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Planning, Implementation, and Sustainability Phases
Institutes and Forums for School Leadership Teams
Institutes for Principals
Skill Development Activities in English/Language Arts and
Mathematics
o School Self-Assessment Rubric and Professional Development
Action Plan
o Career Exploration
 Support Systems for Families
 Public Awareness and Resources
 Educational Trust Awards
STATEWIDE PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES
 The California GEAR UP Program: The First Five Years - 19992004: A Bridge to the Future
 California GEAR UP Newsletter
 California GEAR UP Community Conferences
 GEAR UP Video “Kids on Campus: A Journey that Changes Lives”
(Available in English and Spanish)
 California Colleges and Universities: The Complete Pocket Guide
 Resource & Materials Clearinghouse
 Website: www.castategearup.org
 College: Making It Happen
HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE CALIFORNIA GEAR UP
PROGRAM IS MAKING PROGRESS IN MEETING ITS GOALS?
ACCESS OF STUDENTS TO COLLEGE PREPARATORY EXPERIENCES
More students are preparing to take rigorous high school courses:
•Percentage of GEAR UP schools offering advanced courses in every
subject area, except Foreign Language, increased from 34% to 46%
(increase of 35.3%);
•Percentage of 8th graders in GEAR UP schools enrolled in Algebra I
increased from 19.8% to 35% (increase of 78.2%); and,
•Percent of 8th graders in GEAR UP schools enrolled in Geometry
increased from 1.1% to 1.5%.
Evaluation Results 1999-2005
HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE CALIFORNIA GEAR UP
PROGRAM IS MAKING PROGRESS IN MEETING ITS GOAL?
ACCESS OF STUDENTS TO COLLEGE PREPARATORY EXPERIENCES
More students are receiving information and assistance in
planning for college:
•Percentage of GEAR UP students developing Individual Academic
Plans increased from 20% to 47% (increase of 135%);
•Percentage of GEAR UP students attending postsecondary information
meetings increased from 34% to 67% (increase of 97%); and,
•Percent of GEAR UP schools offering PSAT increased from 9% to
12% (increase of 44%); percentage of students taking PSAT in GEAR
UP schools increased from 1.2% to 2.0% (increase of 67%).
Evaluation Results 1999-2005
HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE CALIFORNIA GEAR UP
PROGRAM IS MAKING PROGRESS IN MEETING ITS GOAL?
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
•Number of GEAR UP students achieving proficiency in English/Language Arts on the
California Standards Test increased from 4638 to 6150 (increase of 32.6%);
•Number of GEAR UP students achieving proficiency in Algebra I on the California
Standards Test rose from 1,316 to 2,425 (increase of 84.5%);
•Number of GEAR UP students achieving proficiency in Geometry on the California
Standards Test rose from 133 to 163 (increase of 22.6%);
•Academic Performance Index at GEAR UP schools rose from 543 to 601 (increase of
10.1%; statewide increase of 3.1%);
•Percentage of GEAR UP schools meeting Adequate Yearly Progress in English/Language
Arts increased from 15.5% to 21.3% (increase of 37.4%; statewide increase of 19.3%); and,
•Percentage of GEAR UP schools meeting Adequate Yearly Progress in Mathematics
increased from 16.4% to 19.4%(increase of 24.4%; statewide increase of 27.6%).
Evaluation Results 1999-2005
NEW ACTIVITIES
•Faculty Symposium to Disseminate Lessons
Learned about Developing a College-Going
Culture
•Community-Based Project
•Business Network
•Public Information Campaign
Academic Excellence and College Access
for ALL Students
Offices:
Website
Sacramento (916) 551-1757
Oakland
http://www.castategearup.org
(510) 987-9137
Email
San Diego (619) 463-3326
[email protected]