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A VOICE FOR ALL STUDENTS - AN INTERVIEW WITH ... PATRICIA MCDONOUGH |
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 Dr. McDonough is a leading expert in the country on developing a college culture and in exploring the choices that students make about their post-high school activities. With a Ph.D. in Education from Stanford University, she has co-chaired the State GEAR UP Support Systems for Families of Middle School Students Implementation Team to which she has brought her expertise in advising school districts and schools throughout the state. Dr. McDonough will co-chair the GEAR UP Faculty Workgroup. She is also the parent of two elementary school children.
Question: What is your view of the work that California GEAR UP is doing with middle schools?
Patricia McDonough (PM): GEAR UP is doing fabulous work with their special focus on whole school change and on preparing whole cohorts of students for college access. Effective whole school change requires total staff commitment.
I am encouraged by ... |
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Notes From the GEAR UP Director Shelley Davis |
 On August 17, 2005, the United States Department of Education announced
the 2005 awards for GEAR UP. California received funding for a new
six-year grant, beginning on September 1, 2005 for $21 million to
increase educational opportunities and college-going rates for
low-income students.
In collaboration with our partners, much has been accomplished since
the program’s founding six years ago. We have seen tremendous growth in
the number of communities committed to creating a college-going
culture. The leading voice for this movement, Dr. Patricia McDonough,
talks candidly about her research in this area ...
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School-Based Services Expanded - Planning Phase Added |
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“We really value all the services of GEAR UP – but we need more time
to plan so that we can take full advantage of what the program offers.”
In response to this statement from middle school administrators,
California GEAR UP has expanded the two-year model of school-based
services. Beginning in spring 2006, schools will now begin with a
planning phase for one semester prior to the two years of intensive
services. Activities during this phase will prepare middle school staff
to take full advantage of two-years of services right from the
beginning of the 2006 school year. New middle schools applicants for ...
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CALIFORNIA GEAR UP CLEARINGHOUSE UPDATE
The California GEAR UP Resources and Materials Clearinghouse is a centralized location for information that is specifically tailored to meet the needs of the middle school community as its “virtual college assistant.” The Clearinghouse is revised and updated each year based on the review and advice of the GEAR UP Community.
Currently undergoing its third revision, the focus of the update this year is to better inform readers of the resources highlighted in the Clearinghouse and how those resources can be utilized to assist in creating college-related student lesson plans and parent presentations. Several updates, including an 18-month professional development calendar and an English and Spanish parent PowerPoint presentation, will be announced in early November at the GEAR UP website.
One of the major additions to the website is the inclusion of a college awareness curriculum, with reproducible lesson plans and worksheets. The purpose of the curriculum is to provide fun, user-friendly activities and lesson plans that explain the college-going process to K-12 students and their families. The curriculum is designed in a modular fashion so that topics can be “mixed and matched” according to student grade levels. Each curriculum topic and its corresponding lesson designate how it can be modified to meet the needs of a 6th, 7th, or 8th grade audience. Curriculum topics range from how to develop effective study skills and habits to exploring why college should be considered as an option after high school. The curriculum lessons and activity design are hands-on, activity-based, interactive and goal oriented.
The new website at californiacolleges.edu is scheduled to be launched by November 1, 2005.
CALIFORNIA GEAR UP “KIDS ON CAMPUS” VIDEO NOW AVAILABLE IN SPANISH!“Kids on Campus: A Journey that Changes Lives” is a half-hour “virtual tour” featuring campuses from the California Community Colleges, California State University, University of California and Independent California Colleges and Universities. The video offers a real life introduction to college as experienced by middle school students and families. The video is now available in Spanish as well as English on VHS. California GEAR UP will provide up to 25 copies per institution, per year. To order a free copy of these exciting videos, please visit our website at www.castategearup.org.
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How One School Used GEAR UP School-Based Services - Marina del Rey MS |
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Teachers, students and parents at Marina del Rey Middle School have made significant progress towards establishing a firm foundation for a college-going culture that envisions “Academic Excellence and College Access for ALL Students.” Located near the ocean in the Los Angeles area, the school is a green oasis with cool breezes, especially noticeable when summer temperatures hit the 100’s in California inland areas. Surrounded by houses, apartments and other private and public schools in the residential area, the school enrolls approximately 1350 students in grades 6 to 8. Student ethnicities are 26 % African American, 65 % Latino, and 5 % White; 30 % are English Language Learners and 76 % participate in the Free or Reduced Price Lunch ...  A few of the many Marina del Rey Middle School students headed for college.
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Fall 2005 5th Edition