We will be collaborating with National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP) at this year’s GEAR UP National Conference in Washington D.C. July 18-21. In order to provide vital information to families, GEAR UP program staff, and college-going students across the country, California GEAR UP will be ‘live-blogging’ the entire conference and providing timely updates on Twitter and Facebook. This years conference is titled: GEARing UP For Excellence: Linking Programs, Practice and Policy. This conference will convene GEAR UP and other college access professionals, as well as their partners for informative concurrent sessions, exciting speakers, and valuable networking opportunities. Starting July 18, follow us as we blog live at the conference.

Some of the featured events at the conference include presentations by conference sponsors on resources such as student data systems, literacy improvement strategies, the role call of GEAR UP states (which is always exciting), keynote speakers such as Juan Williams and Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D., as well as timely and informative concurrent sessions for all attendees.

Here is the schedule at a glance.

Here is the list of confirmed keynote speakers.

Information for first time conference attendees.

Washington DC visitors guide.

Follow all the action on our blog HERE (link will be live starting Monday July 19).