November 16, 2009/State Regents' GEAR UP Program Awards
$225,000 to Oklahoma Schools

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education’s GEAR UP program recently awarded $225,000 in college access subgrants to 18 school districts and sites across Oklahoma. The subgrants will help fund professional development for teachers as they adopt new classroom strategies proven to help students learn more effectively.
Also, the money will provide much-needed funding for financial aid education, student tutoring, mentoring, career exploration and parent workshops.

The 2009 College Access Subgrant recipients each received an award of $12,500. They include: Altus High School; Chouteau-Mazie Public Schools; Eagletown Public Schools; Fairview Public Schools; Grove Public Schools; Hammon Public Schools; Hardesty Public Schools; Ketchum Public Schools; Keys Public Schools; Central, Eisenhower, MacArthur and Tomlinson middle schools, and Eisenhower and MacArthur high schools, Lawton; Sentinel Public Schools; Thomas-Fay-Custer Unified Schools; and Weleetka Public Schools.

The funds are provided by the State Regents’ college access program GEAR UP, a federally funded program designed to help prepare middle and high school students for college.

"We are honored and pleased that federal dollars from the GEAR UP College Access Subgrants are helping provide training and materials to schools in our state,” said Oklahoma higher education Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “We know these practices are effective in building academic success.”

College Access Subgrant recipients have the opportunity to choose from research-based, student intervention programs that help students process, recall and utilize information; build math expertise and confidence; learn planning, time management, organizational and study skills; and get motivated to study harder, set goals and focus on success. Educators learn leadership, organizational and teamwork skills.

Additionally, subgrant recipients must partner with at least one state college or university for local college preparation activities, such as promotion of Oklahoma's Promise; after-school and Saturday programs; summer programs; college awareness counseling; and parental involvement.

"Parents want their children to have a successful future. However, the challenge is often how to help their children reach their goals,” said Chancellor Johnson. “The grants allow us to provide teachers with training and resources to help students and their parents understand that these goals are attainable and that there are many opportunities to maximize their potential. Our community partners broaden these efforts and, in truth, help us create a college-going community for students and their families.”

Since the College Access Subgrant program began in 2006, GEAR UP has awarded more than $2 million to 77 Oklahoma school districts and sites.

For more information on GEAR UP, visit www.okhighered.org/gearup or call (800) 858-1840.


View list of funded program descriptions.

The U.S. Department of Education awarded Oklahoma with state GEAR UP grants totaling $20.5 million in August 1999 and $20.6 million in August 2005. The grants have been matched by more than $47 million from state and partner resources. With the addition of the 2005 multi-year, federal grant, Oklahoma’s GEAR UP program will ultimately receive more than $45.6 million in federal funds by 2011. GEAR UP receives 49 percent of total funding from the federal government and 51 percent from other organizations.