California GEAR UP e-Newsletter

Through alliances and collaborative efforts, California GEAR UP is providing the tools to support and strengthen the middle school community. In this issue, we share information about initiatives to develop comprehensive and sustainable solutions, beyond the school site. With the School-Based Model as the foundation, the California GEAR UP Statewide Dissemination Model expands the program’s reach, promoting the college-going culture concept to a much wider audience. This dissemination is key to sustainability, so that the lessons learned, effective practices developed, and resources created are infused into the state’s school reform movement.

California’s high schools are on the front lines of the battle to prepare every 18-year old for a successful transition to citizenship and employment in our economy. However, a recent finding from the National Association of Educational Progress (NAEP) long-term trend analysis is that the relatively high achievement of America’s 9-year-olds begins to level off and then plummets in the middle school years. All of the significant differences in academic achievement at the end of high school reflect differences that existed before students entered high school.

This is a tremendous challenge and one that we share a commitment to address with organizations at every level. Throughout these pages we share our collaborative efforts with local neighborhood and community groups, statewide and national affiliates. It is through collaborative development that we will realize our goal: to meet the educational needs of all students.

As captured in the words of reflection by a participant in our Continuing Schools Project: “Here’s to new ideas, new concepts, new relationships, new beginnings and new solutions as we continue to work and serve the students in greatest need in our California schools.” That says it all.

NEW MEMBERS of the GEAR UP FAMILY
The California GEAR UP Governance Committee consists of the Intersegmental Coordinating Committee (ICC), the programmatic arm of the California Education Round Table, joined by representatives from the California Student Aid Commission and the Governor’s Office. The Committee provides general guidance to the program. We extend a warm welcome to these new Committee members:

Carole Bogue-Feinour – Vice Chancellor,
Academic Affairs - California Community Colleges

Max Espinoza – Chief, Program Administration &
Services - California Student Aid Commission

Margaret Fortune – Director of Public Affairs -
Governor’s Office

Penni Hansen - Administrator , Intersegmental Relations Office - California Department of Education

Karen Humphrey – Administrator, ITQ Program California Postsecondary Education Commission