SECTION I: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Please provide a brief description (1-2 pages) of the current status of your project. Describe the extent to which you have implemented all program activities and components planned for this reporting period. Highlight your major outcomes, successes and concerns.

The Chicago GEAR UP Alliance, a partnership of four universities, 46 Chicago Public Schools, City Colleges of Chicago and local community-based organizations, is in its sixth and final year of implementation. We continue to be inspired by the progress of the GEAR UP students, by the increasing and ever-expanding leadership of GEAR UP parents, and by thoughtful reflection and methodological growth of GEAR UP teachers and administrators. Increasingly we see the communities surrounding GEAR UP schools embrace this collective work. The breadth of program activity and outcomes outlined in this report demonstrate the extensive impact of the Chicago GEAR UP Alliance. Parents, students and teachers have grown confident that GEAR UP students can and will achieve postsecondary success, with the continuing support of Chicago’s communities, corporations and institutions of higher education.

As we near the end of the GEAR UP grant, we continue to see real impact on student achievement overall. Key results from data collected thus far include:

• The percentage of 8th grade students at or above national norms is larger by 14.1% in reading and 16.2% in math over sixth grade percentages.
  
  
• 75.62% of GEAR UP teachers in 2005 reported they were very much or quite a bit comfortable using state standards in lesson planning over 65.47% in 2004. GEAR UP high schools have lowered their dropout rates and narrowed the gap in dropout rates from neighborhood CPS high schools.In 1999, GEAR UP high schools had a one-year dropout rate of 21% compared to 16% of neighborhood high schools’ students. In 2004, that gap had narrowed to 13% at GEAR UP high schools v. 12% at neighborhood high schools.
  
  
• There is a strong downward trend in chronic truancy rates in GEAR UP schools (9% in 1999 decreased to 6% in 2004. CPS rates have increased slightly in this period, rising from 3% in 1999 to 4% in 2004).
  
  
• Graduation rates at GEAR UP high schools show a strong positive trend. The average rate rose from 59% graduating in 1999 to 69% graduating in 2004.
  
  
• In 2004, 89.49% of GEAR UP students reported planning to attend some kind of postsecondary institution, up from 31.07% in 2002.
  
  
• Parents who report they will definitely or probably find a way to pay for a four-year public college climbed from a baseline of 37% in 2003 to 52% in 2004.

Student Services

The first group of GEAR UP students is now completing its senior year of high school. We have strengthened and expanded our successful activities for students in grades 6th through 12, and have developed new approaches to assist high school students in making a successful transition from high school to postsecondary education success. Adventure education, college application and financial aid workshops, trips to college campuses, Success Club and career exploration opportunities provide students with knowledge about their future options. Tutoring and mentoring services provide students with critical hands-on contact with working adults who model the importance of education, career goals and hard work while assisting GEAR UP students with their academic endeavors.

In an effort to reach the growing number of students who have gone to high schools that are not affiliated with GEAR UP, we are offering exciting and innovative programs for them which address their needs for academic enrichment while preparing them to face the challenging world of work and college level study.

• Tutoring programs are now being institutionalized within the GEAR UP partner universities and their graduation requirements.
  
  
• CPS’ newly developed Department of Postsecondary Education has adopted GEAR UP’s approach to providing students with extensive information about higher education. CPS has also adopted the transition programs developed by GEAR UP for entry to high school.
  
  
• At the NEIU campus, GEAR UP networks offered the summer B.L.A.S.T. II program to expose high school students to college life. Professionals and professors taught writing, math and science, and a full day of advisory activity has been included.
  Many GEAR UP high schools conducted transition activities for 8th grade graduates. 200 prospective Wells High School students and 15 faculty came together for a half-day of a shortened class schedule showcasing the recently upgraded school building. Faculty members offered short, content-based interactive lessons and made brief presentations about the club, sport or program they hosted.
  
  
• All networks hosted summer academy or camp opportunities for GEAR UP students. 69 students took advantage of the North Lawndale Prior Knowledge (PK) Camp in 2004, taking 18 experiential trips during a three-week period. Science and social studies visits ranged from Starved Rock State Park to a Chicago architectural tour. Other trips focused on writing and performing arts, or pursued questions of history and self-identity. All experiences were integrated into classroom curricula.
  
  
• 112 middle grade GEAR UP students participated in the Lakeshore Chapter of LINKS Elementary/High School Student Summit held at UIC that focused on conflict resolution, anger management, self-esteem and the benefits of life-long learning.

Professional Development

The professional development programming in each network continues to be tailored to the needs of particular schools within networks. Teachers continue to expand their leadership roles in facilitation and development of new programs and the expertise of each partner institution is being utilized across networks on an individual basis and through the Annual Teacher Leadership Conference. Innovative collaborations between GEAR UP teachers and parents are being supported.

The impact of professional development on teacher attitudes and perceptions is evident in 2004 results from the GEAR UP teacher survey:

• In October 2004, the Annual Young Adult Literature Conference (YAL) was attended by 110 teachers and several representatives from the Chicago Public Schools’ Office of Literacy. 12 teachers presented workshops on units they had completed over the previous year. 25 teachers participated in the “units for books” program, writing a thematic unit and receiving a class set of books to support implementation.
  
  
• The Annual Teacher Leadership Conference, Professional Development and Student Achievement: Sharing What Works, had a record of 44 teachers and parents taking leadership roles by conducting a variety of workshop sessions. Over 174 teachers attended the 36 different workshops on a wide range of topics.
  
  
• Advanced Placement Training Institutes for high school teachers in biology, chemistry, physics, calculus and computer science will be institutionalized as summer programs at Loyola University, as a legacy of that network’s ongoing support of rigorous academic press in GEAR UP high schools.
  
  
• Curriculum development continues to expand across the partnership. At Kelvyn Park High School, the annual Best Practice Fair now includes workshops, round table discussions and a Gallery Walk to observe teachers’ lesson plans, class materials and student work. An interdisciplinary teacher leadership team now meets regularly to address curriculum realignment and assessment. At Wells High School, a similar interdisciplinary effort has produced a guide to align research methods across disciplines and grades.
  
  
• GEAR UP teachers are being recognized for their work beyond Chicago. The journal Education and Democracy published two articles by two West Town teachers. The National Middle School Association recognized three teachers from Arai Middle School with an award for their supplemental reading program, Real Literature-Real Lives.
  
  
• Increasing teachers’ abilities to reach all learners regardless of learning styles or ability through differentiated instruction has been prominent in some networks and has been effectively integrated within other major professional development activities. For example, CTC specialists working with two schools to support differentiated instruction engaged teachers in developing inquiry-based, arts integrated units using young adult literature and adventure education strategies. GEAR UP’s ability to combine multiple strategies in a coherent manner through professional collaboration has led to more effective teaching for diverse learners.

Parent Programs

The Chicago GEAR UP Alliance has been increasing student achievement through active parent involvement since its inception, recognizing the pivotal role parents play as a child’s first and most influential teachers. The Chicago GEAR UP Alliance’s active recruitment of parent participation led to outstanding parent involvement and contributions in an array of workshops, classes, book clubs and other avenues of leadership within their children’s schools.
During this sixth and final year of the grant, GEAR UP parents continue to play an active role in school reform dialogue by serving as members of the Local School Council, the Bilingual Committee, the Parent Teachers Organization, and other organizations in their local communities. Parents participate in GEAR UP leadership roles, including the needs assessment survey design and delivery; recruitment of other parents at their schools; administrative tasks related to the planning and delivery of workshops on site at their schools; and planning the annual parent leadership conference. Parent advocates conduct workshops such as team building, GED study sessions, math workshops, and book clubs at their schools. Parents have presented at the Teacher Leadership and Parent Leadership Conferences, as well as at the GEAR UP national conference. Network parent programs run the gamut from workshops and classes, to rallies, book clubs and a cable access TV show. The Parent Program model is constantly being improved upon, as new parents become advocates for the contributions of GEAR UP in the lives of their families. Some highlights of the Parent Program follow.

• Parent book clubs, organized at school levels in all GEAR UP networks, come together regularly to discuss books they have all read, in some cases choosing to read the books their children are reading in school. Leading authors have attended these meetings to discuss their work. This family reading model effectively demonstrates the value of lifelong learning.
  
  
• Parents are taking ever-expanding and demanding leadership roles across GEAR UP networks. Parents are now teaching some of the computer classes as well as the GED preparation classes for other parents.
  
  
• Parent advocates have taken the lead in organizing workshops for their schools. This year’s topics included The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families, Goal Setting, Understanding GPAs, Team-Building, Kids at Hope and others.
  
  
• The Parent Leadership Conference drew more than 370 parents from across all schools and networks when it was held at NEIU in the fall of 2004. The 2005 Conference is scheduled for May 7, 2005, with parents participating in the planning process and convening workshops. Two GEAR UP parents will be the Emcees for this event.
  
  
• Parent participation in the college admission process continues to grow. Parent survey response demonstrates that the financial aid workshops and college visits (City Colleges of Chicago, Roosevelt University, Northeastern Illinois University, Knox College and the University of Milwaukee) have been both informative and beneficial.
  
  
• Parent to Parent, a cable access TV show, focuses on helping young people succeed in school and on developing postsecondary education opportunities for GEAR UP youth. By using mass media, the program is available to a greater number of parents with a greater level of access.

In addition to the programmatic activities and changes in teacher, parent and student knowledge and skills that will last well into the future, the collaborative relationships between partner institutions are part of the legacy of this GEAR UP project. Universities, individual schools, Chicago Public School Central Office, community organizations and business partners are all committed to continuing to work together to support student success in middle school, high school and beyond. The major activities and outcomes outlined in this report provide a strong foundation for our future work.

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