2. What is GEAR UP?
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is
a U.S. Department of Education grant designed to increase the number of students
who prepare to enter and succeed in college.
GEAR UP-Anaheim is funded to follow a cohort of 2800 students from Anaheim,
Katella and Loara High Schools until their expected graduation in 2014.
3. Cohort Demographics
85% of all students are on Free and Reduced Lunch
49% of all students are English Learners
82% of dropouts are Latino/as
89% of graduates at the do not complete A-G
8% of graduates submitted a final transcript to a 4-Year College
--- Source: AUHSD and California Department of Education.
4. GEAR UP’s early college awareness and preparation
program for parents sought out to provide the tools
parents need to help motivate their child toward
academic success and realize the value of a college
education.
The program was designed to strengthen the
parent support network in order to better assist their
child’s transition into the ninth grade, which is a
critical period in a student’s academic career.
This smaller group of parents would be trained to
then go out and help GEAR UP build a stronger, more
informed and cohesive group of parents.
5. Workshop 1- Introduction to College Awareness
Workshop 2- Why College is Important
Workshop 3- Exploring Careers
Workshop 4- Parent Fieldtrip to California State University, Fullerton
Workshop 5- Parent Advocacy Training
Workshop 6- Communication with Your Child
6. Study design
Emerging Themes from Parent Interviews
THIS SLIDE IS IN PROGRESS
7. Strong Sense of Community
Pre (n=59) Post (n=60)
58.3
42.4
40
23.7
11.9 11.9
10.2
1.7
0 0
Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree
“I get involved completely and reach out to more parents and talk to other parents
and invite them to come …,ideally [this] group of parents that get together to
learn and gain knowledge and know that this group exists…”
8. Wanting Their Child to Attend College
Pre (n=66) Post (n=61)
95.1
62.1
31.8
4.5 3.3
0 0 1.5 0 1.6
Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree
“…GEAR UP has taught us to always be there for our children, and push them and
say “ we are going to the university”.
9. Belief That Their Child will Attend College
Pre (n=66) Post (n=60)
61.7
45.5
35
22.7
16.7
9.1
6.1
1.7 1.7
0
Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree
“I believe that he does have [barriers] to overcome in his education. He allows himself to
be guided when he is in the [GEAR UP] programs because he sees some sort of
motivation, and it pushes him so that he can have more drive. “
10. Identified Solutions to Barriers
Pre Post (n=60)
55
30 30.8
26.2
16.9
13.8
11.7 12.3
3.3
0
Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree
11. Knowledge of A-G Requirements
Pre (n=66) Post (n= 60)
59
39.3
31.8
22.7
21.2
19.7
4.5
1.6
0 0
Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree
“I have participated in the parent workshops, where they gave information on the
necessary classes you have to register for and what is necessary to get, for
example, if my kid wants to be a doctor what is needed. Any information like that
[such as] A-G requirements. “
12. Strength of Communication
Pre (n=67) Post(n=61)
49.2
39.3
37.3
19.4 19.4
13.4
11.5 10.4
0 0
Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree
“I also think having a good relationship with me and her father [is]what[helps us]
functions the best … when she needs something I am attentive to her, I stop what I
am doing and she tells me what is going on and vents to me. Then I feel that she is
more relaxed and walks away and does her homework. “
13. Strength of Parenting Skills
Pre (n=67) Post (n=61)
45.9
42.6
32.8
20.9 20.9
17.9
11.5
7.5
0 0
Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree
Editor's Notes
Here I will talk about key questions asked by Case Study teamThe mentioning of parent workshops being prevalent in many parents interviews, Fear of status holding students back from attending college, intuitiveness with student’s high school experience so farImplications including continued importance of parent workshops in building parental capacity for supporting student desires of college entrance, 2) importance of parent advocacy and networking as a forum to discuss problems common and prevalent amongst their students, 3) Importance of Parent Liaisons who can a) Build competence in parents about language and concepts around student college entrance b) assist with dealing with school teachers, counselors, administration, etc.
When one parent was asked about their level of participation in GEAR UP this is what they had to say. It was a strong testament to 1) The importance of parent advocacy and self-empowerment through networking , and 2) Importance of collaboration and involvement for the enhanced effectiveness of programs such as GEAR UP on their student.
When asked “what GEAR UP Activities have you participated in this year? “ one parent spoke on the ability of the parent workshops to help them with information on classes necessary for their student citing that *see quote*
When asked by our research team “who are what have been of great help to your student in school? What has been the most helpful or useful.”, this is was one parent’s testament to their attentiveness of their children’s needs
