Chicago GEAR UP

A New Round of GEAR UP Funding Announced

October 3, 2005 - GEAR UP funding has been renewed. Announcements were made at a press conference on Monday at Hancock College Prep, one of the new GEAR UP partner schools. Mayor Daley and Senator Durbin along with Danny Davis and other dignitaries were present to show their support and offer congratulations. Mayor Daley said this grant will help reduce the dropout rate and give students a strategy for staying focused through high school graduation and on to college.

Representing GEAR UP were Teryl ann Rosch, Executive Director of the Chicago Education Alliance and Wendy Stack, Chicago GEAR UP Alliance Director. Chicago Board of Education President, Michael Scott and Barbara Easton Watkins were among those representing the Chicago Public Schools.

See links for video below:

View excerpts from Senator Durbin's speech:
How GEAR UP, with Mayor Daley's support, is helping Chicago Public School students prepare for college
How GEAR UP has helped families succeed in college

The grant continues the partnership of the Chicago Education Alliance postsecondary institutions and the Chicago Public Schools. GEAR UP will continue to support the CPS goal of substantially increasing the number of graduates entering postsecondary education. New to this grant is the partnership with the Chicago Public Schools AVID program.