6th & 7th Graders GEAR-UP for Student Success

Posted Date: 04/23/2019

The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) initiative is one of the largest and most effective programs focused on increasing the college and career readiness of students. GEAR UP is a highly competitive grant program in cooperation with University of Texas Austin that helps empower local partnerships comprised of K-12 schools, institutions of higher education, state agencies, and community organizations to achieve three strategic goals: (1) increasing the postsecondary expectations and readiness of students; (2) improving high school graduation and postsecondary enrollment rates; and (3) raising the knowledge of postsecondary options, preparation, and financing among students and families. Livingston ISD is one of five partner schools awarded this grant in the amount $1.8 million over a 7-year period. Livingston ISD is an official partner and employees have attended several workshops. This grant is to be used for 6th and 7th-graders which is approximately 600 students. The program encourages the success of these students and follows their high school career through the first year of college. 
Through the grant, LISD will be offering free summer camps for students in the class of 2024 and 2025. Each student will also be counseled and guided as they are led through to postsecondary education. The slogan for the Gear Up grant is #TM24 which stands for Technical School, Military, 2-year college or 4-year college. The grant is going to inspire all of the members of the cohort to pursue one of these four options once they graduate. The grant also provides the opportunity to add new course offerings and training for our teachers in career planning and financial literacy. One of the first goals of the grant is for all students to take Algebra by the end of 9th grade. Parents and students will be participating in the program by completing a survey in the coming weeks.