GEAR UP presenters cite rising postsecondary interest as residents press board for vendor data

The South Bend Community School Corporation on Monday heard a detailed update on GEAR UP South Bend, the federally funded college- and career-readiness program, while residents urged the board to make vendor performance data public.

GEAR UP presenters told trustees the program — funded by a 2021 U.S. Department of Education award of $13,200,000 — currently serves more than 2,000 students in the sophomore and junior cohorts and partners with dozens of community organizations to provide tutoring, mentoring, college visits, FAFSA support and work-based learning. "We are serving 2,000 plus students in the current sophomores and junior levels," a presenter said during the slide-backed presentation. The team said the program is one of only two GEAR UP grants in Indiana.

The presentation included survey comparisons the team said show increased college awareness and postsecondary intent. "In 2023, only 54.04 percent reported that they were interested in a four-year degree and above. In 2025, we've seen an increase. We now have 63.63 percent of the students who want to go to the university," the GEAR UP data manager said. Presenters acknowledged privacy limits but said they would publish summary data and make more detailed reports available on request consistent with privacy rules.

Parents, students and partner organizations also spoke directly to trustees. Jeanette Taylor of the GEAR UP team introduced partners and students who described programs that helped them gain public-speaking skills, certifications and work experience. Students credited the program with improved confidence and clearer career paths.

Several community members used the meeting's public-comment period to press the board on vendor transparency, focusing on Enrich U Inc., a vendor whose MOU the board had listed for action. "Vendors should be required to provide clear measurable data to the community that demonstrate the effectiveness, engagement and overall value of their services," Tianna Batiste Waddell said. She listed specific items the public should be able to see: numbers of active students and teachers, participation rates, completion rates, pre/post assessment results and satisfaction surveys.

Other commenters raised process concerns about a late agenda addition and asked whether the district was following its own termination provisions in vendor agreements. Paul Anastas asked why rescission of the Enrich U MOU was on the agenda and whether proper written notice provisions had been followed.

Board members asked presenters for more academic metrics, success rates for tutoring and intervention programs, and details on partner vetting. Presenters said they track attendance, GPA, FAFSA completion and career-interest measures and noted that an external evaluator compiles the district's annual performance report for the federal grant. They also said the district has a partner-scoring process and that summary performance information would be posted online and made available via the QR codes shown during the presentation.

The meeting record shows the board later voted to postpone action on rescinding the Enrich U MOU; trustees did not take final action on that item at the meeting. The district's GEAR UP staff said they will publish summary data and can provide more detailed information to the public consistent with student privacy protections.

The presentation concluded with an invitation for parents and partners to join ongoing advisory and engagement groups. Presenters emphasized that GEAR UP integrates academic supports with workforce pathways and partner-driven opportunities, and that the program team is pursuing federal renewals and sustainability planning.

Next steps: the GEAR UP team said it will post summary outcome materials and provide public access to the data it presented, subject to privacy limits; the board will consider any further contract actions on future agendas.