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Board hears details of GEAR UP federal grant, coordinator outlines $1.22 million plan for cohorts
Summary
Jackson County received a GEAR UP (federally funded) grant coordinated by Appalachian State partners; the seven-year, ~$1.22 million award will follow cohorts of middle-school students and fund professional development and student supports.
Jessica Webb, the local GEAR UP coordinator, presented the grant’s structure and goals at the board meeting, describing it as a seven-year federal program intended to increase college awareness and postsecondary readiness across targeted cohorts of students.
“GEAR UP to me means opportunity and means setting up students for success and allowing students to dream even bigger than they could imagine,” Webb said.
Webb described the local award as the Apex grant, administered through Appalachian State University, that will serve cohorts beginning with sixth- and seventh-graders in Jackson County and expand grade-by-grade. She said the grant will follow the cohort through at least one year of postsecondary education. Webb stated the local portion of the grant is “about a 1,200,000.0 grant for Jackson County,” and that ongoing direct services are roughly $68,000 per year.
Angie Dils, who wrote the grant application for the district, clarified program scope: “All the sixth and seventh grade students in Jackson County are inside miss Frederick can be served. So it's not we're gonna select these 10 or these 20. All students are eligible to be served,” she said, explaining that services apply by grade level rather than to a subset of individual students.
Webb and Dils said the grant funds professional development, stipends for teachers, supplies, college visits, family engagement activities and summer camps. Webb noted Appalachian State and other regional partners will provide technical assistance and that local partnerships include Southwestern Community College, which Webb said will host a grant coordinator on campus (identified in the meeting as Susie Bracy).
Board members asked how participants are identified and whether services are universal or targeted. Webb and Dils explained the grant follows whole grade cohorts and will add an additional grade each year until the cohort reaches the end of high school and the first postsecondary year.
No formal vote was required for the presentation. Board members discussed budget implications and the coordinator said most student services are free; staff professional development often includes stipends.
