GEAR UP Partnerships
GEAR UP Partnerships
What is GEAR UP?
GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a 7-year program sponsored by the United States Department of Education. Designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education, GEAR UP provides grants to states and partnerships to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools. GEAR UP grantees serve an entire cohort of students beginning their sixth and seventh grade and follow them through high school graduation and the first year of college.
This seven-year project is designed to enhance students’ academic success and college and career readiness. Students will explore the various educational and career options. Experiences include various hands-on activities, college visits, career exploration, and other activities to prepare them for post-secondary education. GEAR UP also provides services to the cohort leaders and educators to impact learning and build sustainable supports for future classes.
What is GEAR UP?
GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a 7-year program sponsored by the United States Department of Education. Designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education, GEAR UP provides grants to states and partnerships to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools. GEAR UP grantees serve an entire cohort of students beginning their sixth and seventh grade and follow them through high school graduation and the first year of college.
This seven-year project is designed to enhance students’ academic success and college and career readiness. Students will explore the various educational and career options. Experiences include various hands-on activities, college visits, career exploration, and other activities to prepare them for post-secondary education. GEAR UP also provides services to the cohort leaders and educators to impact learning and build sustainable supports for future classes.
The GEAR UP Model
The GEAR UP model follows two student cohorts, beginning with students in sixth and seventh grade, through graduation, and supports their transition to postsecondary education and careers
- Raises academic aspirations of the entire cohort
- Supports the cohort long-term (6th or 7th grade through first year of college)
- Provides sustainable resources that remain with the grade level even after the cohort moves forward
MIDDLE SCHOOL
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE
Year 1
6th 7th
Year 2
7th 8th
Year 3
8th 9th
Year 4
9th 10th
Year 5
10th 11th
Year 6
11th 12th
Year 7
12th
COLLEGE FRESHMAN
The GEAR UP Model
The GEAR UP model follows two student cohorts, beginning with students in sixth and seventh grade, through graduation, and supports their transition to postsecondary education and careers
- Raises academic aspirations of the entire cohort
- Supports the cohort long-term (6th or 7th grade through first year of college)
- Provides sustainable resources that remain with the grade level even after the cohort moves forward
MIDDLE SCHOOL
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE
Year 1
6th 7th
Year 2
7th 8th
Year 3
8th 9th
Year 4
9th 10th
Year 5
10th 11th
Year 6
11th 12th
Year 7
12th
COLLEGE FRESHMAN
K20’s GEAR UP Grants
In 2008, the K20 Center for Educational and Community Renewal competed for and was awarded its first Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Since that first GEAR UP grant, K20 has completed and received other GEAR UP grants to serve middle and high schools across Oklahoma. The chart below highlights K20 Center’s impact through the federal GEAR UP grant funding.
K20’s GEAR UP Grants
In 2008, the K20 Center for Educational and Community Renewal competed for and was awarded its first Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Since that first GEAR UP grant, K20 has completed and received other GEAR UP grants to serve middle and high schools across Oklahoma. The chart below highlights K20 Center’s impact through the federal GEAR UP grant funding.
K20'S IMPACT FROM 2008 - CURRENT
TOTAL
SUCCESS (2008)
PROMISE (2011)
FUTURE (2018)
MY SUCCESS (2018)
OKC (2018)
LIFE (2024)
Grant
223
78
20
23
47
24
31
# of Schools
38,084
3,256
5,629
7,851
6,467
7,380
7,501
# of Students
10,358
1,592
1,681
2,042
2,056
1,973
1,014
# of Educators
39,316
3,747
4,143
5,919
5,994
16,992
2,521
# of Events
767,769
111,287
185,991
147,589
151,894
140,922
30,086
# of Hours of Service
TOTAL HOURS
767,769
38,084
10,358
223
STUDENTS IMPACTED
EDUCATORS IMPACTED
SCHOOLS IMPACTED
K20’s GEAR UP Services
GEAR UP provides comprehensive college and career readiness services that help students and families prepare for, enroll in, and succeed in postsecondary education through academic support, college and career exploration, financial aid guidance, mentoring, leadership development, family engagement, and connections to campus and community resources. In partnership with educators and school leaders, GEAR UP also delivers professional learning, coaching, data-informed planning, and capacity-building supports that strengthen college-going cultures and create sustainable systems for long-term student success.
Student Services
Each year, all cohort students have the opportunity to visit a postsecondary campus. Schools can select from a list of campuses each year and work with the GEAR UP Student Experiences Coordinator to schedule the visit. GEAR UP provides the agenda, transportation, lunch, and a college readiness activity. During the visit, students learn about the unique opportunities and benefits of the host site. Host campuses have included The University of Central Oklahoma, The University of Oklahoma, and Carl Albert State College.
Zoom Into Your Career
These virtual career expos help large groups of students learn about potential career options by connecting them with a variety of career professionals. Like a traditional career fair, there are multiple professional speakers throughout the day, but unlike traditional fairs, the expo is done virtually, connecting the professionals to classrooms across Oklahoma. Teachers can help by registering their classes for these career expos and can support learning after by extending connections from career experiences to classroom content—for example, how might learning a particular concept in class help a given professional in their career field?
Career Cafés
While Zoom Into Your Career offers a broad overview of careers to a large groups of students, Career Cafés offer an opportunity for students to dig deeper into career fields of specific interest. These meetings provide a way for small groups of students to meet professionals—either in person or virtually—who work in career fields that students want to learn more about. Through this personalized setting, students have an opportunity to make meaningful connections while diving deeper into their career interests.
College2Career
College2Career Forums (C2C) connect students to postsecondary institutions and career professionals for hands-on learning experiences. Like campus visits, C2C Forums allow students to visit a real-world career setting and work with professionals on-site.
Career Exploration & Career Cluster Activities
The K20 Center’s mentoring team has created activities to help students explore different career options and opportunities. After completing the activities, students gain a better understanding of what kind of career might interest them. Students are encouraged to discuss any questions or thoughts they have with a parent, guardian, or teacher.
Family Engagement Services
Family Leadership Academy
The Family Leadership Academy focuses on introducing the GEAR UP grant goals and services to family leaders and exploring the power of different types of parental involvement in education. Family leaders build connections between effective parental involvement and student achievement (an indicator of postsecondary education preparedness), practice making data-driven decisions, and develop action plans for supporting the GEAR UP grant goals.
Family Nights
GEAR UP Family Nights are an integral piece of the grant experience. Students look to family members for guidance and support, and Family Nights empower family members and leaders to be well-informed advocates. Family Nights are an opportunity for K20 to share information, tools, and assistance to help families navigate the path from middle school to high school and on to higher education.
