Statewide services

To support the school-based initiatives that provide direct services to a limited number of schools each year, additional resources are available through the California GEAR UP Program for middle school administrators, counselors, teachers, and families throughout the state:

College: Making It Happen for Middle School Educators  Sponsored in collaboration with the California Education Round Table, regional workshops provide information and strategies for educators to support ALL students mastering State Board of Education standards and preparing for college.

California GEAR UP Newsletter The newsletter is a periodic publication for the middle school community consisting of information about student and school progress, national and statewide activities, program services, and GEAR UP contributions to the middle school reform movement.

California GEAR UP Resources and Materials Clearinghouse   The Clearinghouse provides a single source of information, materials, and resources to support middle school educators, families, and students in preparing for college.  The Clearinghouse is provided in three formats: a website, a convenient Educators Kit, and an interactive, mobile “College Corner” kiosk that is available at several middle school and community sites throughout the state.

California GEAR UP Video  Kids on Campus: A Journey That Changes Lives is a half-hour “virtual tour” featuring campuses from the California Community Colleges, California State University, University of California and independent colleges and universities. The video offers an exciting introduction to college as experienced by middle school students and families. Over 3,000 copies have been distributed to the middle school community and GEAR UP supporters. The video is available in both English and Spanish.

California Colleges Pocket Guide The Complete Pocket Guide of California Colleges and Universities provides an easily accessible inventory of all the higher educational institutions in the state.

California GEAR UP website A website at www.castategearup.org is maintained that provides current information and facilitates communication among all participating schools, partners, and Partnership projects.

SELECTED PROGRAM INITIATIVES

School-Based Services: School-Based services constitute the foundation of the California GEAR UP program and consist of direct services to selected middle schools with on-site support from GEAR UP regional coordinators and project coordinators. The school-based model provides school specific activities and initiatives conducted collaboratively with program partners including: Professional Development, Support Systems for Families and Communities, Resources and Educational Trust Awards. Outcomes focus on ALL students and the development and sustainability of a college-going culture at the school site.

Community Conference: To be held in spring 2010, the conference engages school and university faculty, education practitioners, community leaders, program partners, policymakers, and state and local GEAR UP staff in statewide forums focused on data driven assessment, "Lessons Learned", and recommendations for sustainability of effort. The conference features guest speakers, a student panel, program update, strategy sessions, entertainment and an interactive resource room that showcases California GEAR UP and GEAR UP partnership successes.

Counseling Institute: A series of middle school Counseling Institutes are held throughout the State, inviting counseling staffs from GEAR UP participating middle schools, and neighboring middle schools, which may be non-GEAR UP schools, to participate. The institute encourages counselors in their role as college advocates and strengthens awareness about the importance of academic planning for all students and families. The institute also supports the involvement of faculty from local high schools.

Leadership Training: The Principals’ Institute is a GEAR UP sponsored institute that focuses on leadership skills for middle school principals, that is convened at the end of the Planning Phase. As instructional leaders, principals are responsible for: identifying high quality professional development opportunities for their teaching staff; ensuring resources are available to support the participation of school staff and families; and, creating a culture of learning, predicated on professional development opportunities that build strong teams.

School Recognition Plan: The School Recognition Plan is an initiative to engage, challenge, and reward GEAR UP schools to develop a college-going culture and to provide opportunities for sharing and being recognized for their successes. Selected "Schools On The Move" present best practices from their schools, as defined by the six conditions of the School Self-Assessment Rubric (SSAR), at the Institutes and Community Conferences; and are featured in newsletters and on the web site.

COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS

Business Network: The Business Network will be a statewide alliance composed of representatives from businesses, foundations, corporations, and community leaders to provide both human and fiscal capital to further the dissemination of the resources, materials, and activities that have proven to be effective in creating a college-going culture. The Business Network will involve the private sector in the Public Information Campaign about the importance of all students being prepared for college and the workplace.

Faculty Workgroup: The faculty workgroup will bring together selected faculty from Schools and Colleges of Education throughout the state to discuss lessons learned from the school-based components of California GEAR UP. Teacher and counselor education faculty will recommend a plan of action to incorporate the curriculum, strategies, resources, and expectations engendered by GEAR UP into the development of new middle school educators. Funding for this project is provided by the Improving Teacher Quality grant through the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC).

Public Information Campaign: The Public Information Campaign is designed to develop a comprehensive collaborative campaign that compels all students to meet high academic standards in order that they will have maximum choices, including pursuing a college education. The universal message of the campaign would communicate to students, families, educators, and the general public, expectations and aspirations about a college education as both attainable and affordable.

Sources of Expertise: The Sources of Expertise are appointed and/or selected individuals available to supplement the knowledge base of program and staff. Identified primarily by Round Table members, the persons with expertise will have specific cognizance of research findings, effective practices, and experience that are relevant to a program component. They will meet on an "as needs" basis to participate in the design, implementation, and assessment of program activities.

State Directors Network: This network is a collegial alliance of GEAR UP State Program directors to share and replicate best practices and lessons learned in the interest of strengthening linkages between state efforts, local activities, and the policies that affect common activities with schools, families and communities. The network will produce periodic reports about common challenges.