Hillsborough County GEAR UP Wins Support Through Accountability

For the past six years, the federal GEAR UP program has funded two projects within the Tampa Bay area. Designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education, students entering both Blake and Hillsborough High Schools have had an array of educational and enrichment support services on individual and group levels since they were in middle school. GEAR UP grantees serve an entire cohort of students beginning no later than the seventh grade and follow the cohort through high school.

While the first program at Blake High School has reached an end, graduating its first group of students last spring, GEAR UP’s impact will go on for many years. Approximately 35 $1,000 scholarships were secured by the end of the school year through GEAR UP efforts.

Right: Albert McCarthon Jr. shows off $250 scholarship and his new computer, donated by the Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union. Below: Khadijia Passmore poses for the camera with GEAR UP Community Resource Specialist Eloise Boterf.

Recently, donations by the Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union provided two GEAR UP students with reconditioned computers for their college work, as well as a $250.00 scholarship to be used toward purchasing computer software and related items. Albert McCarthon Jr. is attending Brewster Technical Center, and Khadijia Passmore is at Bethune Cookman College. Youth Mentoring Technologies, Inc. has also provided 3 other students with computers.

Proof of Success

Successful results from the Blake High School program were documented by a recent survey of students and parents. When asked about plans after high school, nearly 82% of the students surveyed said they planned to attend college. The report reveals that GEAR UP participants recommended the program to their friends and utilized program elements such as case management to obtain information about college, or tutors to get help with class work or homework. The evaluator found that “while participants said they joined the program to learn about college and careers and to get involved in activities, they continued their participation because it helped with their grades and because it was fun. When they did not or could not participate, it was because they had to work or otherwise did not have enough time.”

“Although students identified parents and teachers as most important in guiding them about future education decisions, GEAR UP staff ranked third and came before other potentially influential sources such as guidance counselors and peers,” said Tom Massey, PI of the evaluation.

A New Year, A New School

This year, several members of the Blake High School staff joined the Memorial Middle School/Hillsborough High School GEAR UP program, where more than 900 students participate. This year at Hillsborough High, a GEAR UP Resource Center is being established within the media center, offering books and general information regarding career options, the current top 300 jobs, and college information specific to individual career choices.

“Our staff is dedicated to achieving the goal of improving graduation rates and student advancement to post-secondary education,” said Ruby Joseph. “As the Hillsborough High staff plans for its first group of GEAR UP gradates in 2009, we will bring what we learned from the Blake High School experience, and will continue to be involved in a number of support services that focus on academic, social enrichment, parental and community supports, as well as professional development.”

For additional information on the GEAR UP program, contact Ruby Joseph, or for information on the evaluation of GEAR UP, contact Tom Massey.