About Us
GEAR UP: Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs
Program Overview
The GEAR UP program was authorized by the United States Congress in 1998. Since then GEAR UP grants have been awarded to 46 states and four territories and serve more than 739,000 students. The purpose of the program is to foster increased knowledge, expectations, and preparation for postsecondary education among all students, including those from low-income families. Virginia’s GEAR UP program presently provides services to over 4,000 students attending 36 high schools in 25 school divisions across Virginia. Services to students include tutoring, career awareness, college-readiness counseling, and much more. Services are also provided to parents, teachers, and school administrators.
Click to read the Director's Message »
Program Goals
Our program goals include:
- Increasing high school graduation and college-going rates among students from
low-income families - Ensuring that middle and high school students and their families receive the information that they need to prepare academically and financially for
postsecondary education - Assisting students from low-income families to enroll and succeed in postsecondary education by awarding scholarships to eligible students with financial need
Program Services
- Tutoring
- Mentoring
- Parental Involvement Initiatives
- Teacher and Counselor Professional Development
- College Admissions & Financial Aid Workshops
- College Visits
- College and Career Readiness
- Summer Programs
- Scholarships for Eligible Students »
Criteria for Selecting Participating Schools
We followed the federal guidelines that required that we look at each middle schools’ percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced lunches. Only those schools with 50% or more of their seventh-grade students who qualified for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program were eligible for consideration to participate in GEAR UP Virginia.
How are students selected to participate?
GEAR UP schools and student participants were chosen in the 2006-2007 school year. Students can participate if they are a member of the GEAR UP cohort at a participating Virginia GEAR UP school. Students should check with their school-based GEAR UP coordinator to see if they are eligible to participate.
What is a GEAR UP cohort and who is included? »
Additional Resources
- GEAR UP Student Pledge
- Frequently Asked Questions
- U.S. Department of Education GEAR UP
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New GEAR UP Virginia Times Newsletter
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2012 Financial Aid Super Saturday Dates and Locations
Each location offers FREE financial aid assistance to students, parents, and adult learners.
- For more information, visit www.vasfaa.org.
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Why College?
As a college graduate, you’ll earn an average of $368 more a week than a high school graduate — that's $20,000 more a year!