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WSU GEAR UP New Grant Planning Meeting March 19, 2010. Introductions. Washington State University – Tri-Cities School Districts Others RGI Corporation. RGI Corporation. Who we are Educational Consulting Business Majority work in Eastern Washington. Grants Secured for this Area.
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Introductions • Washington State University – Tri-Cities • School Districts • Others • RGI Corporation
RGI Corporation Who we are • Educational Consulting Business • Majority work in Eastern Washington
Grants Secured for this Area Washington State University • GEAR UP • One Vision Partnership I – 2007 – 6 year grant for $11 million • One Vision Partnership II – 2008 – 6 year grant for $13.4 million • Harvest of Hope II – 2008 – 6 year grant for $10 million • Upward Bound – 2007 – 4 year grant for $1 million GRAND TOTAL: $35.4 million
Grants Secured for this Area • ESD 123 • 21st Century Schools Afterschool Program – Cohort 5 – 2007 – 5 year grant for $2,798,725 • North Franklin SD • Kiona-Benton City SD • Finley SD • College Place SD • Paterson SD • Dayton SD
Grants Secured for this Area • ESD 123 • 21st Century Schools Afterschool Program – Cohort 6 – 2008 – 5 year grant for $2,484,975 • Kennewick SD • Othello SD • Prosser SD • Columbia SD • 21st Century Schools Afterschool Program – Cohort 7 – 2009 – 5 year grant for $1,875,000 • Pasco SD • Prosser SD • Richland SD • Clarkston SD
Why Pursue a GEAR UP Grant? Provides funds to: • Help low-income students graduate high school • Help low-income students access college • Engage and inform parents about college opportunities • Raise student/parent expectations about college • Create a college-going culture • Help students to achieve academically
Why Pursue a GEAR UP Grant? How it can help: • Providing instructional staff (i.e. tutors) • Provide extended day instruction • Provide teacher professional development • Provide new strategies, best practices • Purchase instructional technology • Development of rigorous courses
Why Pursue a GEAR UP Grant? State and National Early Outreach Trends • Increasing focus on Early Outreach • Reauthorization of ESEA • Blueprint – college and career-ready students • State HEC Board • Pathways to College
Five Meeting Objectives • Provide overview of next GEAR UP competition • Highlights of new Higher Education Opportunity Act – GEAR UP • Overview of GEAR UP and eligibility requirements • Selection of schools for new GEAR UP • Provide data collection surveys needed
1. Overview of Next Competition Possible Competition • Now – summer • GEAR UP starts August 2010 Scheduled Competition • September 2010 – January 2011 • GEAR UP starts August 2011 Schedule The clock is ticking!
2. Highlights of Higher Education Opportunity Act- GEAR UP Implications - • Federal Regulations to be announced soon • Include a 7th year (first year of college) • Specifies required and permissible activities • Other Implications
3. GEAR UP Eligibility • Start with students no later than 7th grade in a school building that has a 7th grade • K-7 • 7th grade school must be 50% (+) students for free/reduced price lunches • Must follow students (cohort) through graduation with all services (comprehensive)
Building Eligibility Start Start Start
Partnership GrantsMinimum for a Partnership • One Higher Education Institution • One School District • Two Community Partners
Funds Provided and Match Requirements • Level funding for 6 or 7 years • Maximum cost per student is $800 • Match of dollar for dollar is required • Grantees • Schools • Partners GEAR UP Grant
What is GEAR UP Purpose • To increase the number of low-income students prepared for post-secondary • To assist high poverty middle and high schools • Support early intervention activities • Provide early college preparation and awareness services
Previous Early Intervention Components • Tutoring • Professional Development and Curriculum Improvement • 21st Century Scholar Certificates • After-school and Saturday Programs • Summer Programs • Mentoring • College Counseling • Financial Counseling (parents) • Evaluation
Components in Higher Education Opportunity Act • Required Activities • Permissible Activities
Components in Higher Education Opportunity Act Required Activities …Shall provide comprehensive mentoring, outreach, and supportive services to students …Shall include the following: • Providing information regarding financial aid for postsecondary education to participating students in the cohort... • Encouraging student enrollment in rigorous and challenging curricula and coursework, in order to reduce the need for remedial coursework at the postsecondary level. • Improving the number of participating students who-- • obtain a secondary school diploma; and • complete applications for and enroll in a program of postsecondary education.
New Approach • Do not focus on remediation • Forgotten middle students • Take students to the next level
4. Selection of Schools What a high-need competitive application needs: • High poverty • Low academic achievement • Low graduation rates • High # ELL • Low # of rigorous courses • Low college going rates • Low student/parent expectations • Low knowledge about parent financial aid and college admissions process
Selection Criteria • Need for the Project (15 points) • Quality of Project Services (20 points) • Quality of Project Personnel (15 points) • Quality of the Management Plan (15 points) • Quality of the Project Evaluation (20 points) • Adequacy of Resources (15 points)
5. Preparation of Competitive Grant Application • Strong Needs Assessment • Strong Program Design • Strong Management Plan • Strong Evaluation Design
Developing a Strong Needs Assessment Involve Students • Use of Student Surveys • Assess: • Academic Needs • Support Services Needed • College Expectations • College Admission Knowledge • Need to collect about 30-40 surveys • Target 2-4 classrooms • Target potential GEAR UP students • Low-income • Low academic achievers
Developing a Strong Needs Assessment Involve Parents • Use of Parent Surveys • Assess: • Knowledge about college admissions • Knowledge about financial aid • College expectations for their children • Need to collect about 12-15 surveys • Target parents of the potential GEAR UP students
School Building Data Assess: • Class size • Number of counselors • Level of tutoring services • Level of mentoring services • Number of students taking AP Courses • Number of students who take PSAT/SAT/ACT Need to complete one for each participating high school and middle school
Next Meeting • Collect all survey data • Discuss program components and activities • Discuss budgets • Selection of community partners