Parent/Student Information Dinners to be Held for New Program
Lynchburg City Schools is excited to host the GEAR UP Parent and Student information dinners at Lynchburg College - Monday, January 8, 6:00 p.m. for Sandusky Middle School and Tuesday, January 9, 6:00 p.m. for Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School for Innovation. GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a competitive, six-year federal grant program that supports early intervention strategies for increasing the number of students from low-income families on the pathway to post-secondary education. The goals of GEAR UP are to provide early intervention programs to prepare a cohort of students academically for college work, to educate students and their families about the real costs and financial resources that make college affordable for every child and to provide a scholarship for students eligible to receive a Pell grant upon their graduation from high school. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) applied for and received a GEAR UP grant. SCHEV invited two Lynchburg City Schools’ middle schools, Sandusky Middle School and Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School for Innovation, to participate in the 2006-2012 GEAR UP program.
Through this program, GEAR UP support will follow this year’s cohort seventh grade group at the two middle schools through high school graduation in 2012. Funding from the program can be used for activities such as tutoring, mentoring, financial and college counseling with students and parents, and professional development for staff. At least 50% of state grant funds must go towards a scholarship component for those students in the cohort group who meet certain criteria.
Gary Krapf, Director, GEAR UP and an LC graduate will be the guest speaker on Monday night. Michael Willis, Regional Director, GEAR UP will be the guest speaker on Tuesday night.
All Media are invited to attend.