GEAR UP is a U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, discretionary grant program. It provides multi-year grants to States and partnerships to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools.

Mission

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is a discretionary grant program designed to increase the number of students from economically disadvantaged families who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.

GEAR UP provides multi-year grants to States and partnerships to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools. GEAR UP grantees serve students beginning no later than the seventh grade and follow the students through high school. GEAR UP funds may also be used to provide college scholarships to participating students. GEAR UP is unique from other initiatives.

This program employs partnerships committed to serving and accelerating the academic achievement of participating students through their high school graduation. GEAR UP partnerships supplement (not supplant) existing reform efforts, offer services that promote academic preparation and the understanding of necessary costs to attend college, provide professional development, and continuously build capacity so that projects can be sustained beyond the term of the grant.

Learn more about the national project at the U.S. Department of Education website.