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GEAR UP Tennessee

In September 2005, the state of Tennessee was awarded a $3.5 million federal discretionary grant by the U.S. Department of Education, known as Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP). GEAR UP provides resources to assist state efforts to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Partnering together in the development and implementation of GEAR UP Tennessee (GEAR UP TN) are the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, Tennessee Department of Education, Tennessee Board of Regents, University of Tennessee System, along with a host of other consultants and local/regional partnerships.

Tennessee’s 2005-2010 GEAR UP project will serve an estimated 6,000 students per year in 9 counties and 47 schools. The project is designed to promote student achievement, enhance awareness and expand access to post-secondary education statewide, especially in those areas of the state that are traditionally underserved. GEAR UP TN will provide participating counties with resources to serve an entire cohort of students beginning no later than the seventh grade and will continue to assist such students through the completion of high school. Concurrently, GEAR UP funds will be used educate high school juniors and seniors and their families on postsecondary opportunities, financial aid, and the benefits of higher education.

Through the creation of early intervention programs, enhanced academic assessments, and a broad-based outreach campaign articulating the importance of postsecondary access, GEAR UP TN aims to achieve the following goals:

  • Increase educational expectations of GEAR UP students and their families through an expanded knowledge of postsecondary access and financial aid opportunities.
  • Enhance the academic preparation of GEAR UP students to improve high school graduation rates and postsecondary enrollment, retention, and completion.
  • Provide effective professional development for classroom teachers and school staff to ensure increased academic rigor and postsecondary preparation.
  • Encourage family and community involvement through GEAR UP to foster an environment that supports life-long learning.

GEAR UP TN will serve students in Campbell, Cocke, Grundy, Hardeman, Johnson, Lake, Meigs, Union and Wayne counties.

GEAR UP TN Links

Informative PDFs