GEAR UP North Carolina
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Today more than thirteen thousand middle and high school students across the state are preparing to G ain E arly A wareness and R eadiness for U ndergraduate P rograms through GEAR UP.

The half hour documentary features many of North Carolina's key education and political leaders as well as the fresh faces and voices of middle and high school students who are contemplating their future in a rapidly changing world. While many of their parents could depend on manufacturing, tobacco, textiles and furniture to provide a good standard of living for the family, these kids will need more education to be successful or even to compete at all.

The goal of GEAR UP is to increase the number of students who will enter college and complete a college degree or certification. GEAR UP is a unique program because it supports partnerships between middle and high schools, colleges and universities, community organizations, and businesses to work with entire grade levels of students from 7 th through 12 th grades. This successful college access initiative will enhance the quality of North Carolina's future workforce and increase the state's ability to compete in an increasingly global economy.

In 1998, Congress established the GEAR UP program. The GEAR UP North Carolina grant is the largest of the GEAR UP programs in the state and was funded by the U.S. Department of Education in September 2000. North Carolina also has five additional GEAR UP partnership programs that are regionally-based. To date, over 13,000 students in 27 GEAR UP school districts have received tutoring, mentoring, and information about postsecondary education, careers, financial aid, and college scholarships. The statewide GEAR UP North Carolina grant and the 5 GEAR UP partnership grants serve the following counties:

• Alleghany County
• Anson County
• Ashe County
• Avery County
• Caldwell County
• Chatham County
• Cherokee County
• Columbus County
• Cumberland County
• Davidson County
• Greene County
• Guilford County
• Halifax County
• Hertford County
• Hoke County
• Jackson County
• Jones County
• Macon County
• Madison County
• Mitchell County
• Montgomery County
• Pender County
• Rutherford County
• Swain County
• Vance County
• Washington County
• Wilkes County

The statewide GEAR UP NC program is administered by the University of North Carolina Office of the President. The GEAR UP NC Partners are:

• North Carolina Community College System
• The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
• North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities
• North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority
• Pathways of North Carolina
• The University of North Carolina
• The University of North Carolina Center for Public Television
• The Council of UNC Alumni Association Presidents

Resources:

College Foundation of North Carolina
The CFNC is a nonprofit partnership between Pathways of North Carolina, College Foundation, Inc., and the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority. These organizations have broad expertise in helping students to prepare successfully for college and to find the best financial aid alternatives. Together, they provide a complete and comprehensive source of information - and real solutions - for students and their families.

National Council for Community and Education Partnerships
The NCCEP promotes high quality education for all and focuses its efforts to expand the educational opportunities of students most often left behind.

National Gear Up Office
The GEAR UP program is a discretionary grant program designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. GEAR UP provides five-year grants to States and partnerships to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools. GEAR UP grantees serve an entire cohort of students beginning no later than the seventh grade and follow the cohort through high school. GEAR UP funds are also used to provide college scholarships to low-income students.

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