Nov. 29, 2010/State Regents' GEAR UP Program Awards More than $700,000 to Oklahoma Schools

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education’s GEAR UP program recently awarded $710,309 in college access subgrants to 28 school districts targeting 36 sites across the state to fund professional development for teachers so they can continue to strengthen learning opportunities and increase student achievement. In addition, the money will provide much-needed funding for financial aid education, student tutoring, mentoring, college prep activities, career exploration and parent workshops.

The following College Access Subgrant recipients were awarded $20,500 each: Agra Public Schools; Altus High School; Amber-Pocasset Public Schools; Ardmore Middle School; Broken Bow High School; Dickson Public Schools; Duke Public Schools; Durant middle and high schools; Eagletown Public Schools; Fairview Public Schools; Fletcher Public Schools; Grove Public Schools; Hammon Public Schools; Hardesty Public Schools; Ketchum Public Schools; Lawton Central, Eisenhower, MacArthur and Tomlinson middle schools and Eisenhower, Lawton and MacArthur high schools; Putnam City West High School; Sentinel Public Schools; Snyder Public Schools; Thackerville Public Schools; Thomas-Fay-Custer Unified Schools; Turner Public Schools; and Weleetka Public Schools.

In addition, Chouteau-Mazie Public Schools received $16,375; Crooked Oak Public Schools received $16,049; Keys Public Schools received $12,500; Mason Public Schools received $19,000; Mountain View-Gotebo Public Schools received $12,500; and Silo Public Schools received $18,885.

The subgrants 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.

"The federal dollars from the GEAR UP College Access Subgrants give us the opportunity to provide training and materials for teachers as we work collaboratively to improve learning and raise the educational expectations of our students,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “We are fortunate to have these dollars to put into our local classrooms so teachers can directly prepare students for college.”

College Access Subgrant recipients have the opportunity to choose from research-based, student-intervention programs that help students process, recall and utilize information in a demanding curriculum; build math and science confidence; learn planning, time management, organizational and study skills; and get motivated to study harder, set goals and focus on success. Educators learn leadership, organization and teamwork skills as well as how to better communicate what the student needs to improve on so that the student can become college-ready.

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.

"This funding equips teachers with resources and skill sets necessary when building academically strong students,” said Johnson. “Our community partners expand these efforts and provide the extra support and experiences needed for students and their families to be successfully prepared for college.”

Since the College Access Subgrant program began in 2006, GEAR UP has awarded more than $2.7 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 project descriptions.

GEAR UP, a federally funded program administered by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, helps prepare middle and high school students for college through academic preparation programs and scholarships for students, professional development activities for educators and college access information for students and parents.

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.