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National Council for Community and Education Partnerships
EXCEL/PROVE/MOBILIZE

National GEAR UP Academy

February 2–5, 2026 | Online

The National GEAR UP Academy is designed to develop the skills, knowledge, and practices of GEAR UP leaders, practitioners, and partners. With intentional engagement, this event concentrates on topics relevant to GEAR UP with a focus on tools, key information, and team time.

By attending, you will:

  • Gain knowledge and tools on key topics and best practices that you can immediately use.

  • Connect and grow by connecting with members of the national GEAR UP community.

  • Renew purpose through stories that reignite your passion and validate our work.

You can join from the your desk for a few hours each day and access recordings on-demand for three months after the event.

Join a national group of peers to explore ideas, re-energize your GEAR UP programming, and walk away with tools you can use. Don’t miss motivational keynotes and pre-conference activities.

 
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What to Expect

Pre-Conference

The first day of the Academy (Monday) will include pre-conference content. New to GEAR UP? Join the Introduction to GEAR UP & NCCEP. Interested in meeting new people and having some fun? Join social engagement sessions.

Invitation only State and Partnership Directors’ Meetings will take place, as well.

Keynotes

Thought-provoking and energizing sessions will underscore key issues that our community faces today. Keynotes will prepare attendees to dive deeper into the topics of the day, while emphasizing the critical nature of the work that we do.

Classes

Aligned with NCCEP’s eight professional development competencies, classes will be offered in 6 blocks of time. Each class is 60 minutes and will follow one of the following formats:

  • GEAR UP 101: Foundational knowledge on key GEAR UP topics

  • Workshop: Interactive content focused on practical tools

  • Showcase: Series of brief presentations on a similar topic

  • Discussion Lab: Problem-solving and networking breakouts

Team Time

To make the most of your experience, take time to meet with your team to debrief how you can incorporate your learnings into your GEAR UP program. NCCEP will offer guiding questions for team debriefs that you can use.

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Sponsor & Exhibit

Interested in becoming a sponsor or exhibitor at this event? Want to learn more about opportunities during the year? Check out all our options.

Sponsor & Exhibit

Past Events

Looking for prior conference programs? Check out our National Events Archive.

National Events Archive
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