Under the leadership of GEAR UP Oversight Administrator Teryl ann Rosch, the Postsecondary Leadership Council (PLC) is a coalition of Chicago area institutions of higher education and the Chicago Public Schools District committed to the shared goal of successfully assimilating an increasing number of Chicago students into postsecondary education. The founding members of the Postsecondary Leadership Council include the executive officers of the school district and the presidents of seven area institutions of higher education. The PLC grew out of the work of the Chicago Education Alliance, established in 1992, to engage faculty and student service personnel in supporting teachers and students in K-12 education. College of Education faculty are currently involved in partnership programs, including GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs), a six-year $49.4 million grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Education in 2005.