Our Work

We strive to ensure that all students--especially low-income and first-generation students--have the opportunity to succeed in life after high school. Through our advocacy efforts, we mobilize states and communities to expand and sustain college access, readiness, and success initiatives, with a focus on the federal Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) initiative. Through our research and evaluation work, we ensure that education professionals have the necessary skills, capabilities, and infrastructure to make informed decisions. Lastly, through our programs and professional development, we foster a culture of continuous improvement so that our youth, families, and educators not only succeed, but accelerate progress.

Youth programming

We lead a variety of programs designed to inspire, empower, and guide students to achieve more. Our Career & College Clubs are perfectly suited for schools and after-school programs, and our Youth Leadership Summit provides in-depth leadership training. 
 

Data, Research & Evaluation

We work with our community to ensure that GEAR UP programs have the data infrastructures and evaluation designs required to continually improve their practices and impact.  Additonally, we serve as the managing director of the College and Career Readiness Evaluation Consortium.

Professional development & assistance

As the training and technical assistance provider for the GEAR UP community, we host two national events and a variety of institutes for education leaders, family advocates, and evaluators. In addition, we provide direct technical assistance to states and communities. 
 

Advocacy

We work closely with Congress, the White House, and the U.S. Department of Education to represent the interests of our members and GEAR UP community. Through our grassroots advocacy efforts, we harness the remarkable stories and impact of our community to advance effective public policy.