Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for
Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP)
In recognition of the need to improve public education and
to increase low-income students' access to postsecondary education, GEAR
UP was signed into law as part of the Higher Education Amendments of
1998 (Public Law 105-244). GEAR UP is designed to enable more young
Americans to succeed in middle and secondary school, to study hard, and
to take the right courses to become college eligible and competitive for
admission to colleges and universities. GEAR UP enables states and
low-income communities to create new or expanded plans that strengthen
their schools and provide more and better educational opportunities for
low-income students. Based upon proven models, GEAR UP supports
institutions of higher education, local schools and their districts,
community-based organizations, businesses, and states as they work
together to help students and their parents receive information,
training, and support along the pathway to college. GEAR UP also is
designed to strengthen academic programs and student services in the
schools. Through GEAR UP, the U.S. Department of Education and NCCEP
work to meet the challenge of helping more low-income students become
academically and financially prepared to enroll and succeed in college.
Most GEAR UP programs include a scholarship component.
What is GEAR UP?
Congressionally authorized in 1998, GEAR UP is a federal program
designed to increase the college-going rate of low-income students. With
the intent of improving student achievement and success in postsecondary
education, GEAR UP programs provide research-based early outreach
strategies that include: academic support; information about
postsecondary education and financial aid; scholarships; counseling
services; and other relevant strategies. GEAR UP programs are
coordinated through two types of grants: state grants allow state
agencies to coordintate their own programs with local education agencies
(LEAs), and partnership grants are awarded to local community-education
partnerships. In fiscal year 2006, GEAR UP funded 40 state and 175
partnership grants with average state and partnership grant awards of
$2.8 milion and $1.1 million, respectively. To date, federal funding has
totaled over $2.4 billion with more than 1.5 million students
served.
GEAR UP Grantees
GEAR UP at the U.S. Department of Education
For more information about GEAR UP and NCCEP's role, contact NCCEPprograms@edpartnerships.org.
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