GEAR UP Goals
- To significantly increase the academic preparation and performance for post-secondary education for GEAR UP students.
- Ensure that students are academically prepared for and getting ready for college.
- Ensure that courses are academically rigorous to ensure that class subject areas involve critical thinking skills, writing assignments, career exploration, importance of study habits, significance of math, science, English sequences.
- Establish the process for annually identifying those academically at-risk students in the cohort and establish a plan for the provision and evaluation of additional assistance.
- Work with each cohort county school to establish before-school, during-school, and/or after-school and Saturday intervention activities (tutoring & mentoring).
- Ensure that those under-prepared or deficient in basic skill levels have opportunities for improvement.
- Ensure equal access to the physically and learning disabled.
- To significantly increase the number of high-poverty, at-risk students who are prepared to enter and succeed in an institution of higher education.
- Provide academic intervention and motivational opportunities to improve academic progress, self-esteem, self confidence and participation in GEAR UP activities for the purpose of promoting college preparation and improved college going rates.
- Ensure that special students, students with physical and learning disabilities, under-represented students, students in non-traditional fields, bilingual students, and parents have equitable access to academic courses, early intervention opportunities and support services offered in preparation for higher education.
- To significantly increase students' and parents' knowledge of higher education options, preparation, and financing.
- Ensure that parents are provided opportunities for middle and high school participation.
- Ensure that parents receive college information, financial aid information, and college preparation information.
- Ensure that parents are exposed to relevant information about college. Increase students' and parents' knowledge of college preparation requirements and college opportunities.
- Provide cohort parents with GEAR UP brochure and obtain their commitment to participate in parent meetings and workshops (renewed annually).
- To ensure that quality education and support services are provided to cohort students by providing on-going staff development and training for teachers, administrators, support staff, parents, tutor mentors, and volunteers.
- Teacher / Counselor Training: Ensure that middle and high school faculty, administration and support staff are adequately trained to teach and work with students in pursuit of GEAR UP goals.
- Tutor / Mentor Training: Ensure that middle and high school tutors and mentors are adequately trained to provide tutoring and mentoring services to students in the pursuit of GEAR UP goals. Mentor, Tutor & Volunteer Training: Work with County Schools, business and industry Partners, RESA VII, and Fairmont State Teacher Training Program annually to develop and implement a Tutor and Volunteer Training program, as well as a Mentor Training Program, using Yes You Can -- Established Mentoring Programs to Prepare Youth for College, or other mentor materials as a guide for developing an effective Mentor Program.
- Parent Training: Ensure that middle and high school parents are adequately trained and involved in the educational development of students in the pursuit of GEAR UP goals.
- To significantly increase the students' skill-level of use of computers, the Internet, and other technological advancements that will be needed to succeed in higher education
- Ensure the inclusion of technological advances in course presentations and class assignments and the assurance of accessibility to physically and learning disabled students.
- Ensure that students, teachers, and parents are proficient in their use of computers as it applies to GEAR UP goals.
- Ensure that high poverty students have access to computer availability.
- To significantly improve self-esteem and to acknowledge accomplishments & service by providing recognition to students, parents, partners, tutors, mentors, teachers, support staff, and volunteers.
- Ensure that students, teachers, parents, volunteers, tutors, mentors, and community partners are recognized for their contributions to the success of GEAR UP.
- Ensure that students receive academic and participation recognition for their successes.
- Provide incentives, motivational activities, and awards to recognize student achievement.
- To ensure the effective and efficient use of resources through collaboration and cooperation of diverse partnerships that are committed to GEAR UP goals.
- Ensure that partners' assets are matched with program need.
- Ensure partners support GEAR UP events and programs.
- To ensure the program integrity, budget & match accountability, and program management through reliable evaluations & oversight, using best practices and national models already established.
- Ensure efficient and effective management of the GEAR UP grant.
- Ensure the effective and efficient implementation of GEAR UP programs and services through ongoing, data-driven decision-making and comprehensive evaluation measures.
- Ensure the timely collection and analysis of data.
- Ensure that grant operations are being fully implemented, evaluated, and monitored for effectiveness and efficiency.
- Ensure that budget, fiscal operations, and match management are managed effectively and efficiently in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
- External Fiscal & Match Audits
- Ensure that successful practices can be duplicated and shared to non-GEAR UP schools.