Local schools participate in GEAR UP grant

Press release

Several local schools are among those in the state participating in a multi-million dollar grant to help students get to and stay in college.

Box Elder, Harlem, Hays-Lodge Pole and Rocky Boy are among the 18 school districts participating in the $24.5 million seven-year grant for the U.S. Department of Education.

Montana’s Office of Commissioner of Higher Education will use the GEAR UP grant to help more than 5,700 Montana students in grades seven through 12. The grant will provide middle and high schools in the 18 low-income communities with funding for services that help students prepare for and succeed in postsecondary education and beyond. Twelve of these communities are located on or near an American Indian Reservation.

GEAR UP state grants also were awarded to the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education in 1999, 2005 and 2011.

GEAR UP is an acronym for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. The federally funded grant program is one of the largest and most effective programs focused on a school and community approach to increasing the college and career readiness of low-income and underserved students. To participate in a GEAR UP award, at least 50 percent of a school’s student population must be eligible for free or reduced lunch.

OCHE will receive $3.5 million in resources annually over the next seven years to assist students in 18 partner school districts across Montana.

“Student success is our number one priority in Montana,” said OCHE Deputy Commissioner of Academic and Student Affairs John Cech, Ph.D. “The GEAR UP grant program helps us get an early start on that objective by working with local schools and families to help prepare and develop students to be successful in college or in their career. OCHE is honored to once again lead this project and work collaboratively with our K12, organizations, and postsecondary partners.”

The other schools participating in the new grant include Arlee, Browning, Hardin, Lame Deer, Libby, Lodge Grass, Pryor, St. Ignatius, St. Regis, Superior, Thompson Falls, Troy and Wyola.

In addition to the identified schools, Montana GEAR UP will partner with more than 20 statewide partners, including the Office of Public Instruction, Reach Higher Montana, The Montana College Access Network, Montana Tribal Colleges, Montana University System campuses, and The Montana Postsecondary Educational Opportunities Council. Program schools and fiscal partners are required to provide dollar for dollar nonfederal match in support of program efforts, bringing the total program funding to $49 million over the seven-year period.

Montana Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian underscored the importance of the grant.

“Montana’s GEAR UP program has had an incredible impact on nearly 8,000 students in 18 communities across the state,” Christian said. “In addition, it provides the funding for 10,000 high school juniors across the state of Montana to take the ACT exam free of charge. This grant is about equalizing education so it is available for all and creating many access opportunities for high school students to continue on in college.”

GEAR UP Director Zach Hawkins said the project goals are to increase student academic performance and postsecondary success, increase high school graduation rates, improve classroom learning opportunities, and improve students’ and their families’ knowledge of postsecondary education options and the financial aid process.

Partner schools will work with state staff to provide services such as tutoring, mentoring, career planning, course advisement, summer camps, financial aid workshops, ACT test preparation and educational field trips.

GEAR UP also provides professional development for teachers and school staff and informational services to parents. College freshmen who graduated from a GEAR UP high school are also eligible for GEAR UP supported services.

“This is a highly competitive process, and we are honored to receive one of the 10 state grants awarded in 2017,” Hawkins said. “GEAR UP is about helping students prepare for and succeed in postsecondary and career opportunities after high school. We work with students, parents, teachers and administrators to provide opportunities and support to students. Our state and school teams strive to ensure students are given opportunities to pursue their dreams.”

Through this grant award Montana GEAR UP will provide funding for the ACT Plus writing test for all Montana public high school juniors in partnership with the Office of Public Instruction. Montana GEAR UP also coordinates the Montana College Application Week campaign. This campaign occurs every fall. All Montana campuses agree to waive or defer the price of one college application for seniors from participating high schools. This year, 141 high schools have signed up to participate and the event will take place the week of Nov. 6.