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Tahlequah Public Schools to receive $37.4 million GEAR UP grant to expand college-readiness services
Summary
District and state GEAR UP officials told the Tahlequah school board the grant will fund student supports, educator training and family outreach across Tahlequah and 12 other Oklahoma districts over seven years.
Tahlequah Public Schools announced at a board meeting that the district will receive GEAR UP funding totaling $37.4 million over seven years, part of a statewide award that also covers 12 other Oklahoma school districts, GEAR UP officials said.
The grant, administered through the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, will support college-readiness services for middle and high school students, professional development for educators and family outreach, Cassie Landers, GEAR UP site director for Tahlequah Public Schools, told the board. "Tahlequah and 12 other school districts across the state will be receiving GEAR UP funding in the amount of $37,400,000 over the next seven years," Landers said.
GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) funds are intended to ease student transitions to higher education, particularly for first-generation college students and families unfamiliar with the application and financial-aid process. Landers said the grant cycle entering is "Grant 5" for Oklahoma and will provide direct student services, educator professional development and parent and family outreach activities.
District and partner staff described components the program will supply locally. Northeastern State University college coaches who work with Tahlequah seniors will continue to support the senior-to-freshman transition, district staff said, and Jolyn Horne, identified as the Oklahoma-based director for the GEAR UP grant, attended the presentation. The board received a ceremonial check and took photos during the presentation; no board vote was required for the announcement.
Superintendent Tammy Jones called the award "a very, very valued partnership," and listed services that the district expects to expand, saying, "College visits, FAFSA help, leadership training, HCT prep, you name it. It's helping us, it's helping us help our teachers improve their teaching, our leaders improve their leadership, and our students be prepared for whatever it is in life that they want."
Board members and district staff did not provide a detailed budget breakdown at the meeting. Landers and district staff said the funding will run for seven years and will be used for the program elements described; specific start dates, annual allocations and local match or implementation timelines were not specified in the presentation.
District and program officials said they will share more information about local implementation and opportunities for families and schools to participate as plans are finalized.
