Five Priority Areas and Objectives

GEAR UP Kentucky helps students in five strategic priority areas. Activities are conducted on a local and statewide basis.

1. Awareness of College Opportunities and Benefits

   GEAR UP provides counseling and information to students about the value of college, the pre-college curriculum, college admissions requirements, and college costs and financial aid. Activities include:

   
   • College and career expos
   • Guided college tours
   • College planning workshops
   • Career awareness
   
   

2. Enriched Educational Experiences

   To ensure that all students have access to rigorous coursework, quality teaching practices, and supplemental instruction, GEAR UP Kentucky supports:

   • Program improvement reviews for schools in mathematics, science, and writing
   • Student skill assessments for college preparation
   • Targeted professional development for teachers
   • Summer enrichment camps for students
   • GEAR UP Preparatory Educational Services (GUPPES), in conjunction with KYVU, KVHS, and KYVL. Contact Dr. Randolph Hollingsworth for more information.
   
   

3. Involving Students' Parents

   Helping parents set high expectations for students is vital to the success of GEAR UP. Parents participate in activities such as:

   • Workshops about the Individual Graduation Plan and taking the right courses for college
   • Seminars about the importance of higher education
   • Tips for college planning
   
   

4. Financial Assistance for College-Bound Students

   GEAR UP presents information on financial aid resources so that cost is not a barrier to college going. Assistance includes:

   • Financial aid workshops for parents and students
   • College savings and financial planning advice for parents
   • Internet resources for students
   
   

5. Helping Students Succeed

   GEAR UP provides other academic and developmental assistance, such as:

   • Mentoring
   • Tutoring
   • Service learning
   • Social and cultural enrichment
   
   

GEAR UP Kentucky Objectives

GEAR UP strives to help students develop behaviors and characteristics that will ensure success in college. The primary objectives of GEAR UP are to:

• Enroll more students in postsecondary institutions after high school graduation.
• Reduce the number of students performing at the novice level in math, science, and writing.
• Encourage more middle school students to take algebra.
• Help parents prepare for and finance their children's college education.
• Qualify more students for state financial aid programs, in particular the Kentucky Education Excellence Scholarships (KEES) and the Kentucky College Access Program (CAP).

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