Parents' Guide to Gear-Up!

What is Gear-Up?

Gear-Up stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs

The GEAR-UP grant's goal is to make sure that our middle school and high school children are being given every opportunity to be prepared for college.

Fairmont State College received one of 164 Partnership grants awarded throughout the Untied States, and is one of two grants awarded in West Virginia. Fairmont State College was awarded over $22 million dollars over a 5 year period of the grant.

How Does My Child Benefit From GEAR-UP?

After school turoring, mentoring, and other sopport services

Computers and other classroom equipment

Enhanced classroom materials

Computer scholarships

Special events and speakers

College tours

Educational feild trips

Career and college information

FREE summer camps

FREE tickets to college events

Advanced learning

What are the parent benefits of GEAR-UP?

Parent workshops about college planning and college requirements

Parent workshops on financial planning for college

Special topic workshops for parents to help address the needs of teens

GED and Basic Skills brush-up courses for parents

Math, computer, and other courses to help parents keep up with what is being studied by children

FREE tickets for parents to attend college event with their children

How much money does each county get?

Based on the number of students in each grades 7 - 11 each county anticipates to receive this amount over the 5 years of the grant:

Barbour- $1,193,431
Doddridge- $646,766
Harrison- $2,173,330
Marion- $1,754,487
Monongalia- $1,192,789
Preston- $1,784,329
Randolph- $1,061,990
Tayor- $769,321
Tucker- $1,033,737

How were these counties chosen?

The counties are desgnated by the State as being in the Fairmont State College service area.

Will every school in the county receive GEAR-UP money?

...Only the schools which met the 50% "Free or Reduced Lunch Program" criteria as established by the Federal Government were eligible for partnerships.

Who are the GEAR-UP partners?

Other state and local agencies also receive GEAR-UP funding to provide support and activities for the schools. Along with the nine counties, partners include:

America Counts-America Reads
American Education Services
Clay Center
Fox46
HI-Y Leadership
HSTA
KIDS Count
NCWV Consortia for Math and Science
On-the-Edge
RESA VII
Time Warner Cable
Times West Virginia
VISTA
WVASFAA
WV Center for Professional Development
WV Dept. of Ed.
WVNET
WVU
WVU/NASA

Which grades are involved?

The numbers of students served will increase as each new 7th grade class is added.

2000/2001: 7th and 8th grade
2001/2002: 7th, 8th, and 9th grade
2002/2003: 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th grade
2003/2004: 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th grade
2004/2005: 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade

Gear-Up Middle & High Schools

Barbour County
Belington Middle
Kasson Middle
Philippi Middle
Philip Barbour High

Doddridge County
Diddridge County Middle
Doddridge County High

Harrison County
Gore Middle
South Harrison Middle
Lumberport Middle
Salem Middle
Washington Irving Middle
Lincoln High
South Harrison High
Liberty High
RCB High

Marion County
East Fairmont Junior High
Fairview Middle
Mannington Middle
Monongah Middle
Rivesville Middle
North Marion High
Fairmont Senoir High
East Fairmont High

Monongalia County
Westwood Middle
Clay Battelle Middle
Clay Battelle High
University High

Preston County
Bruceton Middle
Central Preston Middle
Rowlesburg Middle
South Preston Middle
Terra Alta/East Preston
West Preston Middle
Preston High

Randolph County
Elkins Middle
Harmin
Pickens
Tygarts Valley Middle
Elkins High
Tygarts Valley High

Taylor County
Taylor County Middle
Grafton High

Tucker County
Tucker Valley Middle
Davis-Thomas Middle
Tucker County High