“This school is going to take a hard hit next year,” said Jacqueline Haynes, principal of Howard W. Blake High School in Tampa, speaking to GEAR UP’s first ever group of graduates and family members at the recent senior awards ceremony.

Haynes was referring to the fact that GEAR UP, a federally funded program that helps to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education, has reached the end of its federal funding from the US Department of Education. While there are a number of students who are not yet seniors, federal funds were awarded support only the first cohort of graduates.

“Gear Up has provided valuable service to the school,” added Haynes, “and we are really going to feel the impact of the loss next year.”

GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program) at Blake High School is one of two programs in the Tampa Bay area. This past academic year, the GEAR UP program served 511 students from the 11th and 12th grade at Blake High School. Many of these students were part of the original 6th and 7th grade cohort at Franklin Middle School. The program was implemented in school districts having low academic performances and limited resources.

Case Managers and GEAR UP staff offered many words of praise and encouragement during the ceremony. “Stick with it,” said Theo Bell to the graduating students. Bell, along with Roderick Barnes and Electa Davis, is one of three case managers working at Blake, and currently fights for his life while waiting for a kidney transplant. Despite his ill health, Bell demonstrated his commitment to the students by delivering a special message and presenting awards to the graduating class.

“ Don’t let this be the last of your education,” he said. “The more education you receive, the better life you will have.”

“ I’m so proud of you,” Bell went on to say. “Yes, I’ve fussed at you at times, because you needed to be fussed at.” And the fussing worked, as evident in the GEAR UP evaluation.

As with most grant-funded projects, research must be conducted to determine if the funding was worthwhile. In 2004, evaluation of the Blake program shows that discipline referrals dropped for students who participated in GEAR UP, while their FCAT reading scores improved. These positives changes continued this year, as GEAR UP continues to provide many different services.

Although GEAR UP has reached an end at Blake (and many schools across the nation), the program’s impact will go on for many years. Approximately $123,000 scholarship funds were secured through GEAR UP efforts.

The GEAR UP service strategy has been comprehensive. The program has offered case management and mentoring services; in-class and after school tutoring in Math, English; preparatory classes focused on Standardized Testing such as FCAT, ACT and SAT; Saturday and Summer programs; leadership development sessions; college educational tours; and a wide variety of enrichment activities. Collectively these services have had a positive impact on our students.

“ We’re looking forward to awarding scholarships to many of our students who have been successful in getting into post-secondary educational settings," said Ruby Joseph, GEAR UP director. "We’re excited about sending them off to various vocational/technical centers, community college and four-year universities. And our experiences at Blake High School will provide useful lessons as we implement our GEAR UP program at Memorial Middle and Hillsborough High schools.”