Guide to GEAR UP in Texas

GEAR UP "Creating a Vision IV"

Texas A&M International University/Laredo

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Name of Project:

GEAR UP "Creating a Vision IV"

Website:

http://www.tamiu.edu/specialprograms/GEARUPIVMainPage.shtml

Director's Name:

Dr. Rick Moreno

Director's Contact Number:

956-326-2764

Director's Email:

rick.moreno@tamiu.edu

Years of Grant:

2011-2018

Type of Grant:

Single cohort, 7 year grant

ESC Region(s):

ESC Region One, ESC Region Two, ESC Region 20

Number of Students Served:

8,800 students

Brief Description of Program:

The GEAR UP IV “Creating A Vision” project is a partnership grant between Texas A&M International University and 19 school districts throughout the southern part of Texas covering approximately 14,792 square miles.  The grant is designed to provide low-income students with the skills, motivation, and preparation needed to successfully pursue a postsecondary education and be successful in the postsecondary education setting.  The focus of the project is to provide direct services to students through four strands: academic, assessment, college readiness, and parental involvement.  Each campus site has a College Access Team (Site Coordinator and College Access Coach) that provides direct services to students.

Partners:

 

• Laredo Community College
• Sul Ross State University
• City of Laredo Public Library
• Human Health Services
• South Texas Literacy Coalition
• TOTEM, LLC
• International Bank of Commerce (Duval County, Jim Wells County, Eagle Pass, Webb County, Zapata County)
• Laredo Federal Credit Union
• Texas Instruments
• Princeton Review
• Abriendo Puertas
• CoBro
• A&M Agri-life

Project Goals:

“Working with the End in Mind” is the philosophy of GEAR UP IV.  Meeting the objective/mission of ensuring 100% of the cohort successfully completes their postsecondary education entails knowledge of the challenges at that level in determining which interventions must be implemented at each level (middle school, high school, and the transition into postsecondary).  Utilizing a data-driven, research-based decision-making method of isolating interventions that are effective, the results will lead to accomplishing the mission of the grant. The three main goals are: reduce drop-out rate, increase graduation rate (highest level of high school completion with a distinguished diploma as opposed to a basic high school diploma), increase postsecondary success (no remedial coursework needed and completion of certificate/degree on time).

Notable Project Achievement:

At the TAMIU GEAR UP IV PREP RALLY “Learners Today, Leaders Tomorrow” Conference which was held September 18, 2012, we brought approximately 10,000 students to the Laredo Energy Arena where 30 postsecondary institutions provided information on various career options including: one-year certificates, two-year certificates, associates of arts degrees, four-year degrees, graduate programs, etc.  The event also included federal, state, and local elected officials who witnessed the impact GEAR UP funds are having on our South Texas region and the students whose lives they are impacting.  This event was created to be a catalyst for these students to Gain Early Awareness of Undergraduate Programs for 100% of our cohort.

 

Unique to the Project:

TAMIU GEAR UP IV was written anticipating the economic impact education has on the industry that has emerged in South Texas (oil & gas).  The scope of the impact this grant will have on providing the educated workforce that will ensure the economic success of the region will depend on the sustainable systemic educational reform it is able to successfully implement.

District/Campus Names:

District	Campus
Alice ISD	William Adams Middle School Alice High School
Ben Bolt/Palito Blanco ISD	Ben Bolt Middle School Ben Bolt/Palito Blanco High School
Benavides ISD	Benavides Secondary School (grades 7-12)
Carrizo Springs CISD	Carrizo Springs Junior High School Carrizo Springs High School
Cotulla ISD	Frank Newman Middle School Cotulla High School
Crystal City ISD	Sterling Fly Junior High School Crystal City High School
Dilley ISD	Mary Harper Middle School Dilley High School
Eagle Pass ISD	Eagle Pass Middle School Eagle Pass High School Memorial Junior High School C.C. Winn High School
Freer ISD	Freer Junior High School Freer High School
Jim Hogg ISD	Hebbronville Junior High School Hebbronville High School
La Joya ISD	Ann Richards Middle School Cesar E. Chavez Middle School Lorenzo de Zavala Middle School Memorial Middle School Javier Saenz Middle School Irene Garcia Middle School J.D. Salinas Middle School Domingo Trevino Middle School La Joya High School Juarez-Lincoln High School Palmview High School
La Pryor ISD	La Pryor High School (grades 7-12)
Laredo ISD	Dr. Joaquin G. Cigarroa Middle School Louis J. Christen Middle School Clark Middle School Mirabeau B. Lamar Middle School Memorial Middle School Dr. Joaquin G. Cigarroa High School Raymond and Tirza Martin High School Joseph Nixon High School Laredo Early College High School at Texas A & M International University Dr. Dennis D. Cantu Health Science Magnet School Sabas Perez School for Engineering and Technology Education Vidal M. Trevino School of Communications and Fine Arts
Orange Grove ISD	Orange Grove Junior High School Orange Grove High School
Pearsall ISD	Pearsall Junior High School Pearsall High School
Premont ISD	Premont Junior High School Premont High School
San Diego ISD	Bernarda Jaime Junior High School San Diego High School
United ISD	Gonzalez Middle School Trautmann Middle School United Middle School United South Middle School Washington Middle School Alexander High School United High School United South High School
Webb ISD	Bruni Middle School Bruni High School