Taken from the California GEAR UP website at
http://www.castategearup.org/about-gear-up: What is GEAR UP?
GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate
Programs) was enacted as part of the 1998 Higher Education Act
to give more low-income students the skills, encouragement, and
preparation to enter and succeed in post-secondary education.
GEAR UP grants have been awarded to 46 states and four
territories. Program services are specifically designed to
support the middle school reform effort in each State. Why begin
college preparation in middle school? Recent data indicates that
California’s educational pipeline – from the time students enter
secondary education to when they graduate from college – needs
significant repairs. For every 10 students who start high school
in California, fewer than two will complete a higher education
degree within the expected time. Analysis by the National Center
on Public Policy and Higher Education shows where the pipeline
is “leaking” in California: - 8th gr