About Us

FAQs
Still have questions? Below is a selection of the most frequent questions GEAR UP NC staff are asked:

Q.
 What is GEAR UP?
A.
 Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is a national initiative whose mission is to significantly increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. GEAR UP is funded through grants from the U.S. Department of Education.

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Q.
 What criteria were used to select the GEAR UP NC school districts?
A.
  • Percentage of students in district who qualify for free or reduced lunches
  • Percentage of students in school district entering postsecondary education
  • Percentage of students in district completing college-bound curriculum

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Q.
 Some school districts have their own GEAR UP grant. How is that possible?
A.
 The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) provides two different kinds of GEAR UP grants: grants to states and grants to partnerships. A partnership consists of one or more local school districts, one or more higher education institutions and at least two other partners (local community organizations, businesses, religious groups, college student organizations, state and local education agencies, and parent groups). Currently, there are five partnership grants in North Carolina. These partnership grantees applied for a GEAR UP grant independently of the state grant and are accountable to the USDE for meeting grant objectives.  Currently, there are six partnership grants in North Carolina. These partnership grantees applied for a GEAR UP grant independently of the state grant and are accountable to the USDE for meeting grant objectives.

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Q.
 What is the relationship between the state grant and the partnership grants?
A.
 While local partnership grants are independent of the state grant and accountable for meeting their own grant objectives, every effort is made to prevent duplication of effort. One of the goals of the state grant is to cooperate with and enhance local partnership grants.

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Q.
 Which counties are currently involved in GEAR UP NC?
A.
 Alleghany, Anson, Asheboro City, Beaufort, Caldwell, Chatham, Cherokee, Cleveland, Columbus, Craven, Gaston, Graham, Granville, Greene, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Jones, Iredell-Statesville, Johnston, Lexington City, Madison, Martin, Mitchell, Montgomery, Newton-Conover City, Pender, Rutherford, Union, Vance, Washington, Wayne, Weldon City, Wilkes, and Winston-Salem Forsyth.

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