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GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federally funded program that focuses on increasing the number of students who succeed at the postsecondary level. GEAR UP enables communities to create new or expanded plans that strengthen their schools and provide better educational opportunities for low-income students. It provides student development support in and out of school, teacher professional development, and parent support programs—all designed to strengthen academic programs and student services in the schools.
The national GEAR UP program has three major goals:
- Increase high school graduation and college-going rates of low-income students
- Increase academic performance of low-income students
- Enhance school academic and curricular reforms including professional development for teachers of low-income students.
(Resource: National GEAR UP website.)
The Chicago GEAR UP Alliance is a network of seven universities and the Chicago Public Schools. The seven universities are Northeastern Illinois University, The University of Chicago, DePaul University, Loyola University, National-Louis University, Roosevelt University, and Truman College. The Chicago GEAR UP Alliance received a six-year grant of $49.4 million dollars to implement GEAR UP in numerous CPS schools. These schools receive the services of a GEAR UP Coach.
