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Mission Statement
Yakima Valley GEAR UP will develop extensive community partnerships to provide learning opportunities and experiences for all 6th-10th grade students.  GEAR UP is committed to preparing these students to enter and succeed in post secondary education.

Objectives
UW GEAR UP provides a multitude of services to students, parents, and teachers that are designed to meet the following three objectives of the national GEAR UP Program:

  • Increase the academic performance and preparation for post-secondary education of GEAR UP students
  • Increase the rate of high school graduation and participation in post-secondary education of GEAR UP students
  • Increase GEAR UP students’ and their families’ knowledge of post-secondary education options, preparation, and financing

History
GEAR UP stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs.  It began in 1999 as a partnership between the University of Washington, seven Eastern Washington School Districts, the Yakama Nation Tribal School and a number of local and regional community partners.  Since then, GEAR UP has grown to thirteen school districts, 1 Tribal School, 3 higher education institutions and 8 community and business organizations, all working together to address the needs of low-income at-risk students in the Yakima and Skagit valleys.  The program is funded through the University of Washington by two federal grants from the U.S. Department of Education with local school districts providing matching support.

Over the past seven years, UW GEAR UP has helped over 15,000 students learn about and prepare for college through educational activities such as instructional support, college visits, tutoring, field trips, test preparation and other academic assistance.  The program has also served parents by providing information about college entrance requirements, and teachers through professional development activities.  We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Education for providing the funding for this program that had such a profound impact on the students of the Yakima Valley.  We also wish to thank our community partners including the Yakama Nation, Yakima Valley Community College, Northwest Learning and Achievement Group, Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic-Northwest Community Action Center, and Microsoft.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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