GEAR UP Proclamation: PDF version of the Governor proclamation.
Federal Program: In 2005 Governor James Doyle designated the Wisconsin Department of Public
Instruction (DPI), as the single state agency to apply for the federally funded GEAR UP grant. The Wisconsin Educational
Opportunity Program (WEOP), is an agency within DPI that administers the GEAR UP grant as well as 6 other state and federal
initiatives, including: State Talent Search; Early Identification Program; Talent Incentive Program (TIP), grant, Pre-College
Scholarship program, and federally funded Talent Search, and Upward Bound programs.
As a state GEAR UP grantee, DPI/WEOP provides programs and services to 3,000 priority and cohort low-income
students enrolled in grades 6-12 in 11 rural and urban targeted school districts located in the cities of: Ashland, Bayfield,
Eau Claire, Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee, Racine, Wausau, and Washburn Wisconsin. DPI also contracts with the Bray Neighborhood
Center in Racine and the United Community Center in Milwaukee to provide services to eligible GEAR UP students from their
communities. State GEAR UP students attend 24 high schools, 22 middle schools, and 2 cohort elementary schools throughout
Wisconsin.
The mission of the State GEAR UP program is to provide early intervention and college awareness to all the
students enrolled in the DPI program. All priority students must qualify for free or reduced lunch and must be attending one of
the targeted schools at the time of enrollment. The goals of the state program are to: 1.) retain the students in middle and
high school; 2.) help students graduate from high school; 3). Enroll students into post-secondary educational programs; and 4.)
award college freshmen and continuing scholars a GEAR UP Scholarship.
GEAR UP Education Specialists are located in all seven DPI/WEOP offices and they provide personal, career,
academic, and financial aid counseling to GEAR UP students enrolled in the targeted schools in their communities. Counselors
also provide parent workshops and professional development opportunities for educators. Students participate in field trips to
colleges throughout the state; career and pre-college fairs; and tours of area businesses. They also attend workshops on
developing leadership and study skills; ACT preparation, and college preparation including admission and financial aid.
DPI GEAR UP also offers students an opportunity to attend a variety of pre-college programs paid for through a DPI sponsored
scholarship.
Students with grades lower than a “C” are encouraged to participate in the various tutoring programs held
around the state either during or after school. Work Study students from the local universities are hired to tutor the students.
College students also mentor the GEAR UP students at their school or in the community. At several sites, the GEAR UP high school
students also mentor the middle school students.
Demographics: The 2736 students attending the 48 urban and rural schools throughout the state are made up of the following
characteristics:
The 05-06 breakdown is as follows:
5.41% American Indian or Alaskan Native
32.89% Asian
34.50% African American
17.11% Hispanic/Latino
10.05% White
.04% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
DPI/WEOP GEAR UP Objectives:
- Enroll 3,000 students in grades 6-12 from 11 target school districts and two community centers.
- Increase the high school graduation rate by 2% each year.
- Increase the average WKCE standardized reading test scores of the 8th and 10th grade students by 2% each year.
- 80% of the seniors will enroll in a post-secondary institution by the fall following their high school graduation.
- 95% of the juniors planning to attend a 4 year college/university will take the ACT or SAT test in their junior year of high school.
- 100% of the new 6-12th grades GEAR UP students will receive the 21st Century Scholar certificate, financial aid
information, and college admission information during each program year.
- GEAR UP scholarships will be awarded to all eligible students enrolled in the state and partnership programs as well as TRIO students.
- 14 workshops will be offered statewide annually for parents and there will be a 25% increase in parent involvement
by year 4 of the grant.
- Local and state capacity will be built during each program year to sustain GEAR UP beyond the federal funding period.
Eligibility: Students in 6th to 12th grades from 48
targeted priority schools and 2 cohort elementary schools in Wisconsin who meet the
criteria of low-income, disadvantaged students as determined by the
USDA income
guidelines for free and reduced meals.
GEAR UP Scholarship
All students who were enrolled in the federally funded Department of Public Instruction’s
GEAR UP program can be considered for the GEAR UP Scholarship to help fund their college education. The total amount of the scholarship for the 2007-2008 academic school year is $2,625 and will be awarded in 2 equal disbursements for the fall and spring semesters. All eligible students must attend college either full or half-time and the scholarships will be reduced to $1,312 for halftime enrollment. No scholarships will be awarded for summer programs. In order to qualify for the GEAR UP Scholarship, students must meet the following criteria:
- Students must have been enrolled in the DPI/WEOP GEAR UP program for at least 4 years between 6th and 12th grade and must be in the program at the time of Graduation.
- Students must apply for financial aid and qualify for the federal Pell grant and either the Wisconsin Higher Education grant or the Wisconsin Tuition grant.
- Students must attend either a 2 or 4 year public or private college, university, or technical college that administers both federal and state financial aid in the State of Wisconsin.
- Students must be less than 22 years of age at the time of application.
- Students must have received a secondary school diploma or it’s recognized equivalent.
- Students must complete a GEAR UP Scholarship application and submit it along with a copy of their financial aid Award Letter either to the GEAR UP staff or DPI/WEOP office for the initial scholarship only.
- In order to maintain GEAR UP funding after the initial year of enrollment, students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress as established by their college.
- Students who transfer to other colleges are required to notify the DPI/WEOP office in order to reinstate their GEAR UP Scholarship eligibility at the new college.
- Students pursuing an associate’s degree are eligible for an award for a maximum or 6 semesters and students pursuing a bachelor’s degree are eligible to receive the GEAR UP Scholarship each year for a total of 5 years (10 semesters).
- Students who withdraw from college for more than a year are ineligible to receive the continuing scholarship.
Application Form
Targeted Schools:
Staff:
| Director: | Kevin Ingram | Milwaukee WEOP Office |
| |
| Coordinator: | Bonnie Dockry | Eau Claire WEOP Office |
Education Specialists:
| Ashland WEOP Office: | Shari Nutt and Ken Thornton |
| Eau Claire WEOP Office: | Jennifer Xiong |
| Green Bay WEOP Office: | Ying Jing Vang |
| Madison WEOP Office: | Alexis Anderson-Reed |
| Milwaukee WEOP Office: | Harriet Browne: Priority |
| | Gerrie Collins: Cohort |
| | Connie Callan: Cohort |
| Racine WEOP Office: | Tanisha Kirkwood |
| Wausau WEOP Office: | Kathy Drury |
Office Associates:
| Ashland: | Kaci Peterson |
| Eau Claire: | Kristy Rubenzer and Olena Davidson |
| Green Bay: | Karen Wheatley |
| Madison: | Yolanda O'Quinn |
| Milwaukee: | Yolanda Rowe |
| Racine: | Beverly Alexander |
| Wausau: | Sandy Jo Drebenstedt |
Activity Calendar:
| September: | Freshmen, Sophomore, and Junior student meetings |
| | Assist Seniors with college applications |
| | Career workshops |
| October: | Educator workshops |
| | Wisconsin Education Fairs |
| | College Visits |
| November: | Youth Power Breakfast and conference |
| | College Visits |
| | Middle school workshops |
| December: | WEASSP Pre-College Conference |
| | Cultural program |
| January: | Parent/Student Financial Aid workshops |
| | College Visits |
| | Senior Meetings |
| February: | Administer Plan test to sophomores |
| | Career Luncheons |
| | Student workshops |
| | College Visits |
| March: | Pre-College Fairs |
| | ACT Prep workshops |
| | State GEAR UP Conference |
| April: | College Visits |
| | Unity in the Community field trip |
| | Urban Teacher World field trip |
| May: | Recognition banquets for students and parents |
| | College visits |
| | Career fair |
| June: | Washington DC trip for juniors & Seniors |
| | Southern Tour of college campuses |
| | Pre-college programs begin |
| July-August | Pre-college programs continue |
| | GEAR UP Leadership Camp |
| | GEAR UP Leadership conference |
WEOP has seven statewide offices: Ashland, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee, Racine, Wausau
For questions about this information, contact Bonnie L. Dockry (715) 836-3469
Last updated on 4/14/2008 2:26:52 PM
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