|
|
The Bronx Institute of Lehman College announces its celebration of the First Annual National GEAR UP Day. This day commemorates 10 years of success for the transformative Gaining Early Awareness and Education for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), a college access program created during the Clinton Administration. Since its inception in 1999, GEAR UP has improved educational outcomes for millions of low-income students across the United States.
The Bronx Institute celebrates GEAR UP Day with the following activities:
- In more than 50 schools served by our three GEAR UP programs, all Bronx Institute GEAR UP staff will meet with our 8,500 students, distribute Bronx Institute GEAR UP yearly student planners, and provide an orientation to rigorous and stimulating GEAR UP school activities for the coming year.
- The Bronx Borough President is issuing a Proclamation from declaring Friday, September 18th, 2009 as “GEAR UP Day” in The Bronx
- The Congressmen representing The Bronx are acknowledging Bronx GEAR UP Day in The Congressional Record.
Dr. Herminio Martinez, Professor of Middle and High School Education at Lehman College and Executive Director of The Bronx Institute, urges students to be diligent and use their middle and high school years to prepare them for the next step. They should meet with their teachers and complete the courses they need to graduate. They can expand their educational opportunities by working with their GEAR UP project associates to hone their interests, determine the type of college they might like to attend, and access the help they need to make their academic and professional dreams a reality. We work with families to give parents a better understanding of the college application and financial aid process as well as emphasizing the importance of a strong academic performance in middle and high school. Dr. Martinez says “Your GEAR UP team, together with your school and family, are ensuring that you receive the best education possible, so that in college you can continue along the pathway to success.”
To date, The Bronx Institute of Lehman College through the GEAR UP Network, South Bronx GEAR , and Bronx GEAR UP programs has served over 8,500 students.
GEAR UP Success Stories
For high school students in The Bronx Institute GEAR UP Network
- Nearly half of the GEAR UP students who took the English and US History New York State Regents exam in 2007-2008 passed the exam, and the passing rates of these GEAR UP students exceeded the passing rates attained by all students in Region One of the NYCDOE, the administrative district to which GEAR UP Network schools belonged.
- Students who had participated in GEAR UP for more than one year and were enrolled in a Network school had higher Regents passing rates than students who were new to GEAR UP or who were enrolled in schools without a GEAR UP staff presence.
- GEAR UP evaluations confirmed the statistical correlation between number of hours of GEAR UP participation and Regents test scores, with a higher number of hours associated with higher test scores.
- GEAR UP students made expected progress (11 credits per year) toward their high school diploma. In addition, students with higher levels of GEAR UP participation earned on average more credits than their peers, even after taking into account prior year’s differences in student achievement.
- GEAR UP has distributed laptops to more than one-fourth of GEAR UP students over the past three years. In self-reported survey data, a large majority of students indicated that the computer has helped them to improve their research and reading skills.
For middle school students in South Bronx GEAR UP and Bronx GEAR UP
- GEAR UP students who took the New York State English language arts exam in 2007-2008 met the learning standards, with most students either maintaining or improving their performance level from the previous year’s administration.
- Two-thirds of the GEAR UP students who completed the New York State mathematics exam in 2007-2008 met the learning standards. Most students maintained the same performance level they achieved the year before; one-quarter demonstrated improvement.
- GEAR UP evaluations confirmed the statistical correlation between number of hours of GEAR UP participation and math and reading test scores, with a higher number of hours associated with higher test scores.
- GEAR UP distributed laptops to one-quarter of GEAR UP students in the project’s first year, fulfilling the project’s technology performance measure. In year two, the number of participating students having received laptops reached nearly one-half.
GEAR UP students and their families became better prepared for postsecondary education by learning about colleges and careers.
- Both students and their parents place a high degree of importance on attaining a college degree and have high aspirations for college completion. A large majority of students and many of their parents had talked to someone in their school or GEAR UP about college preparation and financing, according to survey data.
GEAR UP Students from all three grant programs presented at the National Council of Community and Education Partnerships conference in San Francisco this summer. The presentation theme was “Investing in Future Scientists” and highlighted several exciting learning partnerships with the New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo, and Wave Hill Nature Center.
National GEAR UP Day is a time to celebrate these accomplishments in our local community and rededicate our efforts in the new school year.
Posted on: September 17, 2009
Article published on: September 17, 2009 | by: The Bronx Institute
|
