Students from Kaimuki, Nānākuli, Waiʻanae and Waipahu High Schools spoke to the Hawaiʻi State Legislature about the college access program GEAR UP and the impact it has had on their success in high school and aspirations for college. Hawaiʻi celebrates the success of its GEAR UP programs as part of National GEAR UP Week, September 19–23.
There are three GEAR UP programs in Hawaiʻi–GEAR UP Hawaiʻi, GEAR UP Waipahu and Holomua GEAR UP. The statewide grant, under Hawaiʻi P–20 Partnerships for Education, works with students in grades 7 through first year in college. One of its major initiatives is to increase financial aid awareness and FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) completions for low-income students and families. Research shows that FAFSA completion is strongly associated with postsecondary enrollment.
The GEAR UP programs have been critical in leading education reform efforts to help reach the state’s goal of 55 percent of working age adults holding a two- or four- year college degree by 2025.
“National GEAR UP Week is a time to highlight the achievements of these programs as well as programs across the country,” says Karen Lee, executive director of Hawaiʻi P–20 Partnerships for Education. “To be part of a national effort committed to expanding college access opportunities to build up our future workforce is something worth celebrating.”
For more about the three Hawaiʻi GEAR UP programs, read the news release or go to the program website.
More about the national GEAR UP program
GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a college access program funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Since its inception in 1999, GEAR UP has improved educational outcomes for millions of low-income students across the United States.
Related UH News video
More students earning college credit in high school, April 19, 2016
