Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs is a national initiative that seeks to increase the number of students in specific target populations who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. The program is funded through competitive grants from the U.S. Department of Education.

The Pennsylvania Academy for the Profession of Teaching and Learning, part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, received its $12 million five-year GEAR UP grant in 2002 to provide services for nearly 14,000 students in the Harrisburg School District and the School District of Philadelphia through partnerships with the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) and the two school districts.

For an overview of the grant, download our brochure (PDF file size: 739KB). Viewing PDF files requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader™.

Program

The PA State GEAR UP program includes activities directed at raising academic performance through:

1. Early Intervention Services, including:
   • Needs assessment of school district students
   • Educational action plans for all GEAR UP students
   • Academic monitoring and evaluation
   • Career exploration
   • Academic and cultural experiences on university campuses
   • Tutoring and study skills enhancement
   • Mentoring from university and community volunteers.

2. Professional development, specifically:
   • Training and university courses to improve the quality of teaching and learning and to meet needs of GEAR UP students
   • One-week residential experience for teachers in urban settings to explore and solve teacher/learner challenges unique to urban education
   • Online courses
   • Certification programs.

3. Pre-service teacher education programs that will:
   • Provide Urban field experiences and student teaching in Harrisburg and Philadelphia schools
   • "Grow your own" university-based pre-service teacher programs aimed at encouraging teacher education students to pursue placement in urban settings, specifically the Harrisburg and Philadelphia school districts.

4. Parent programs, to include:
   • Facilitating information meetings for parents to discuss students’ goals and providing information about financial services and PHEAA
   • Arranging college visitation for parents and students.

5. Last dollar scholarships to eligible students for postsecondary education.