CFS Staff Gear Up for Two New Projects
The management of two "Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs" (GEAR UP), which are funded by the US Department of Education and the Children's Board of Hillsborough County, have recently been transferred from the Florida Community Partnership Center to the Department of Child and Family Studies(CFS) at USF.
GEAR UP began in 1999 at Franklin Middle School when the entire 7th and 8th grade became the first group of Hillsborough County students to participate in a five-year nationwide program designed to prepare low-income students to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Since that time, case workers for GEAR UP have stayed with the students, who are now in the 9th and 10th grade at Blake High School in Tampa. The case workers are readily available throughout the day - inside and outside the classrooms, providing a variety of services, including career counseling, academic advisement and conflict management. The GEAR UP program organizes social and recreational activities through the GEAR UP club which meets monthly. GEAR UP also organizes college tours for GEAR UP students and offers a number of enrichment opportunities for students and parents through its Saturday and Summer Programs.
CFS staff including Principal Investigator Ruby Joseph and Joko Segova are working closely with Project Manager Bryce Pride and three case workers at Blake High School to expand student education and development, faculty development, and family support and empowerment. "Currently," said Ruby Joseph, "we are looking at the student's 9th and 10th grade FCAT scores and assessing those who need additional help. Although GEAR UP services are for all students enrolled in the program, case workers have been assigned 20 students who will receive intensive case management services. Beginning January 11, Saturday FCAT study programs will also be available and we are offering special incentives to the students who come. In addition to the two-hour study session, we are encouraging parents and students to stay for separate motivational sessions."
Additional funding has been granted for a second GEAR UP program. Also under Ruby Joseph's direction, this five-year project will serve Memorial Middle School's 600 6th and 7th graders, many who are bound for Hillsborough High School in 2004. Jerry Miller, who has been with GEAR UP since 1999, is coordinating CFS's involvement with Memorial Middle School's GEAR UP Program. Project Manager, Patra Wiley-Cooks and her staff will implement core program components including tutoring, mentoring, as well as Saturday and Summer Programs. In addition, the school hopes to establish the "Yes We Care" program. This program which is operated by the University of South Florida College of Engineering and Hillsborough County Schools, is dedicated to encouraging and developing students interests in the math,sciences and engineering fields.
CFS GEAR UP staff have begun working collaboratively with faculty in the Department of Education and other colleges to support implementation and also to create an advisory board. CFS's Chair, Bob Friedman, TREaD Division Director, Mario Hernandez, and researchers, Chamain Moss and Teresa Nesman serve as consultants on both GEAR UP programs.
"GEAR Up is unique because it provides long-term mentoring and tutoring over a period of five years, and it helps children stay on track for college," said Ruby Joseph. "In the Memorial Middle School program, we are working hard to fit the program to the school in order to ensure that students will succeed in their classes, and we will provide more comprehensive after-school, Saturday, and summer programs." For additional information, contact Ruby Joseph at 813-974-9339 or visit the USDOE GEAR UP website at http://www.ed.gov/gearup.