Guide to GEAR UP in Texas
East Texas GEAR UP Project
Stephen F. Austin State University
Name of Project:
East Texas GEAR UP Project
Website:
http://www.gearuptexas.com/about.html
Director's Name:
Barbara Davis
Director's Contact Number:
956-468-1813
Director's Email:
davisbarba@sfasu.edu
Years of Grant:
2005-2011
Type of Grant:
Cohort
Districts/Demographics:
Brookeland ISD, Center ISD, Central ISD, Diboll ISD, Hemphill ISD, Hudson ISD, Lufkin ISD, West Sabine ISD, Woodville ISD, Zavalla ISD. More than 50 percent of the students in each of the middle and high schools in these rural districts are from low socioeconomic groups.
Number of Students Served:
1,548
Brief Description of Program:
Conceived as a systemic change effort, the East Texas GEAR UP Project provides targeted professional development to faculty and staff; community and business involvement; and parental engagement. The project establishes a system-wide mindset of high academic expectations for all students, wherein increased numbers of secondary students participate and succeed in advanced level courses in order to prepare them for success in postsecondary education. It is designed to address the urgent need to increase the college-going and success rates of students in the project schools primarily by increasing secondary students’ participation and success in rigorous academic courses.
A vital component in improving the educational attainment of secondary students will be to enlist the support of parents as advocates for increasing each student’s readiness for postsecondary education. Using the foundation of success from the prior GEAR UP Project, the current program addresses evolving needs of schools in the region. Specifically, the project addresses a dramatic increase in the number of Hispanics by focusing on the unique needs of minority students, and the project helps districts to address higher expectations of student achievement on state standardized achievement and college readiness tests. Guided by a project advisory committee, school districts and partners, the project team is able to effectively provide resources and services to best meet the specific situation of each school district in the changing cultural environment.
Partners:
Angelina College
Additional Contributing Organizations:
Angelina/Lufkin County Chamber of Commerce, Top Ladies of Distinction