GEAR UP ALABAMA
WHAT IS GEAR UP ALABAMA?
• GUA is a University of Alabama at Birmingham
project that focuses on serving students in
the Black Belt region of Alabama
• GUA has built an infrastructure of districts in
the BBR to effectively prepare students for
post secondary education
Funding
• This 7 year grant was funded for $24.5 million (actual
money)
• There is a required dollar-for-dollar match of “in-kind” for
$24.5 million
• The total value of the grant is $49 million
• However
– We receive $3.5 per year and it must be renewed each year.
Justifications and documentation must be provided for
continued funding.
– This amount must service our 9300 cohort students, along with
their parents, and teachers. This also includes administrative
expenses.
– This is a “seed” from the federal government.
GUA’s Six Regions
Region 1
Region 3
Region 4
Region 5
(Elaine Munn, RC)
(Valerie Crawford,
RC)
(Dr. Samantha
Briggs, RC)
Butler County
Wilcox County
Perry County
Russell County
Dallas County
Demopolis City
Hale County
Macon County
Selma City
Choctaw
County
Pickens County
Bullock County
Lowdnes
County
Sumter County
Greene County
(Lanora Emziah,
RC)
Phenix City
Region 2
(Drs. Claudia
Williams and
Prentiss Coleman,
RCs)
Montgomery
Public Schools
Pike County
Linden City
Barbour
County/City
Marengo
County
What is GUA’s Goal?
• The overlying goal for this project is to
significantly increase the number of lowincome students who are prepared to enter
and succeed in postsecondary education.
• The national average for the PLAN is 17.2;
Alabama state average is 16.7; for BBR 13.4 –
16.7
ACT Scores Required for
Al Schools
School
ACT
UA
21
AU
24
UAB
20
UWA
19
Troy
20
UM
20
ASU
18
% of BBR Students Not Prepared for
the Rigor of College
Academic Milestone
% Not Meeting Milestone
Graduate high school
28 %
Enroll in college following their senior
year of high school
54 %
Place in college level math
18 %
Place in college level English
8%
GUA Objectives
All GUA activities are to align with the grant’s
five objectives.
Objective 1
To increase the academic performance and
preparation for post secondary education for
GEAR UP students
Objective 2
To increase the rate of high school graduation
and enrollment in post secondary education for
GEAR UP students
Objective 3
To increase GEAR UP students’ and their
families’ knowledge of postsecondary education
options, preparation, and financing
Objective 4
To increase the percentage of GEAR UP students
who enroll in and succeed in postsecondary
education
Objective 5
To increase the preparation of the project
teachers and staff who teach and serve
GEAR UP students
HOW WILL GUA ADDRESS THESE OBJECTIVES?
GUA- A Collaborative Effort
(planned by school’s team)
School
Parents
Student
Targeted
additional
resources
Community
“Team Approach”
• TAVs-baseline data (desktop audit & TAV report)
• PLCs
– Input from school level stakeholders
– Integrating pre-existing initiatives with GUA
activities…it’s a matter of efficiency
– Planning of activities based on school schedule and
feasibility
• Outside resources integrated
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GUA suppliers
GUA partners
Business/community connections
Faith-based/non-profit initiatives
Grant writing
GUA School Teams
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Regional Coordinators
Site Facilitators
Team-Leaders
School Administrator
Counselor
Department chairs or designees (core and
elective)
• Parent representative
• Community leader
• Business leader
What is a “Regional Coordinator”?
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GUA identified personnel assigned to a specific region
Acts as the liaison between GUA PI and PD.
Works with “partners” to connect school needs with partner offerings
Coordinates/facilitates regional meetings, trainings, and professional
development activities
Works with districts and schools to insure compliance of GUA objectives
Meets with district and school administrators to insure positive
relationships between GUA and school personnel
Oversees activities/duties of the site facilitators and team leaders of the
designated region
Acts as the first level of approval for GUA activities and/or expenses
Helps create monthly and weekly reports for GUA, district, and school use
Helps identify “outside” enrichment programs and scholarship
opportunities for GUA cohort students
Helps site facilitators and team leaders as needed
What is the “Site Facilitator”?
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GUA/School District identified personnel assigned to a specific school site
Acts as the liaison between GUA PI, PD, and Regional Coordinators
Helps to identify “site specific” needs and coordinates activities associated with
addressing those needs, to include teacher PD.
Identifies possible community resources that may assists with GUA objectives
Works with community organizations and other entities to address site specific
needs
Helps coordinate/facilitate additional student, faculty, parent evaluations
Provides instructional mentoring-training
Coordinates team meetings
Gathers and analyzes school data
Helps create monthly and weekly reports for GUA, district, and school use
Helps coordinate/facilitate parent workshops geared towards helping parents
become better prepared to support their child’s educational process and success
What is the “Team Leader”?
• Administrator recommended active faculty
member
• Works closely with “site facilitator” in identifying
and coordinating GUA activities
• Helps “site facilitator” become acclimated with
school culture and climate
• Helps facilitate team meetings
• Helps facilitate faculty professional development
• Provides instructional mentoring-training
• Helps with GUA school reports
GEAR UP Alabama Communication Structure
Communication Flow
Team leaders &
Site facilitators
Regional
Coordinators
GUA Central Of ice
(project director &
business
manager)
Current GUA Suppliers
• ScholarCentric (Resiliency analysis and reports, PD)
• ePrep (ACT computerized training for instruction and
preparation)
• Kaplan (PD/materials)
• Southern Regional Education Board-SREB (Site visits,
baseline data for school team data driven decision
process, PD)
• Regions Bank (Literacy Training, family incentives)
• Spectrum (Evaluation and fund-raising)
• Auburn University (Coordinators of summer programsenrichment and remediation)
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Partners
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Auburn University
University of Alabama
Alabama State University
University of Montevallo
Troy University
University of West Alabama
Alabama 2-Year College System
Alabama State Department of Education
Black Belt Community Foundation
Regions Bank
AHEC (Alabama Health Education Centers)
ALHAC (Alabama Health Action Coalition
Possible Community Resources
• Partnering with community based organizations
(boys/girls club), faith-based community (after
school programs), fraternities/sororities
• Local Business-Soliciting incentives and fundraising opportunities, providing input in team
meetings, providing real-world experiences for
student learning
• Industries- Making connections to leverage realworld connections, job shadowing, internships,
and scholarship opportunities
GUA example activities for students
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Programs to Prepare Students Academically for College
Academic Advising
Tutoring
Summer Activities: Core Subject Summer Academy,
Transition Programs
Dual Enrollment, remediation, enrichment, and advanced
track
Increase rigor in coursework
Introducing Students to Higher Education: College Tours,
College Bridge Program
Preparing and Taking College Entrance Exams
GUA example activities for teachers
• Individual and Group Professional Development
• Instructional Coaching
• Collaborative planning using internal and
external resources to increase rigor and
transference
• Celebrations for innovative teaching
GUA example activities for school counselors
• College Counseling Training Initiative: increase
the knowledge and skills of counselors who
advise students on their postsecondary
aspirations.
• Work with the ALSDE (College and Career
Ready counselors, PD, additional resources)
GUA example activities for parents
• Student and Parent Academic, Career, and
Financial Counseling through College and
Career Readiness & Financing Workshops
• 21st Century Certificates at Parent/Student
Kickoff
GUA’s Focus
• The central goal of GEAR UP is to significantly
increase the number of low-income students
who are prepared to enter and succeed in
postsecondary education.
• Programs and initiatives must be aligned to
this central goal.
GUA’s Focus
• The federal government mandates that most
of GEAR UP activities are tied to direct
services for our students.
• We appreciate any suggestions you may have
for GEAR UP Activities. Please make sure your
suggestions are tied to our objectives and
student services.