Year 5 Final Progress Report link

Governor Beshear Proclaims GEAR UP Day

Kentucky's Governor, Steve Beshear proclaimed September 30, 2010 as GEAR UP Day in Kentucky.

Kentucky Governor Steven L. Beshear

In concert with National GEAR UP Day, GEAR UP schools across Kentucky are celebrating with with GEAR UP schools in 48 states to formally recognized the impact and promise of the 11 year-old, federally-funded college and career readiness program. 

Acknowledging the importance of a well-educated population and the role that collaborative programs such as GEAR UP play in developing a community and a culture that both inspires and supports college dreams, Governor Beshear made Kentucky's recognition official in a proclamation that reads:

WHEREAS, Education is the key to Kentucky’s 21st century economy, and sustainable, rewarding careers and higher levels of educational attainment require Kentuckians who are college and career ready; and

WHEREAS, Senate Bill 1, passed in 2009, brings together educational partners who are focused and committed to advancing key education initiatives to impact college readiness and completion in Kentucky; and

WHEREAS, Kentucky’s K-12 system, its colleges and universities, and the Education Professional Standards Board – along with educational partners such as the GEAR UP Alliance and others – have entered an era of unprecedented focus on college and career readiness; and

WHEREAS, The “GEAR UP” program works with community partners, schools, teachers, parents and students to create a sustainable college-going culture in more than 160 Kentucky schools; and

WHEREAS, GEAR UP serves as a bridge between middle, secondary and postsecondary systems for more than 30,000 of Kentucky’s students;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, STEVEN L. BESHEAR, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, do hereby proclaim September 30, 2010, as

GEAR UP DAY

 in Kentucky.

DONE AT THE CAPITOL, in the City of Frankfort this 29^th day of September, in the year of Our Lord Two Thousand Ten and in the 219^th year of the Commonwealth.

Signed, Steven L. Beshear, Governor

Planning for new grant

>  Note from the Executive Director 

With regard to a new GEAR UP Kentucky grant structure and the prospect for future employment, it remains too early to provide any kind of preview of the new grant because frankly it has not been written.  Based on the logic model I presented at our last staff meeting, it’s seems clear there will be some change to the structure of the program however just what those changes may be are not at all clear.  It is also reasonable to say that while the structure of the program may change, I anticipate there will be several positions  across the state.  Again to go beyond this without having a definitive management plan developed for the new program would truly be premature.

However, to give you a better picture of our grant planning activities, refer to the above link.

GEAR UPdates

September 22, 2010                                         Days left in grant: 344

• Kara Couch joins the central office team as new fiscal officer. She will manage contracts and post-award issues. Expenditure reports can now be send to her attention at karam.couch@ky.gov.

• CTL will begin high-school walkthroughs at the end of September. See complete schedule below. Note date change for Clay County to Oct. 12.

• Any GEAR UP student choosing to re-take the ACT may apply for GEAR UP funds to pay the testing fee after all other fee waivers have been exhausted.

• September 30 is National GEAR UP Day! Post a blog on GEAR UP Today to let us know your ideas and/or plans for observing the day in your schools.Check out an event hosted by California GU at these links:

http://apps.cpe.ky.gov/temp_docs/gearup/NGUDSchools2010.pdf

http://apps.cpe.ky.gov/temp_docs/gearup/PressReleaseNGUD2010.pdf

• Year 5 Final Progress Report will be available on zoomerang next week. The deadline will be extended to about mid-October. Regional Staff will receive the link to complete the report in an email.