Sapulpa students, along with their families, will receive important services and information to help them better prepare for and succeed in college, thanks to a multi-year federal GEAR UP grant award.
Oklahoma GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federally funded program administered by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE). The program is designed to prepare middle and high school students for college success through direct student support services, effective educator professional development and leadership opportunities, and parent and family outreach activities and events.
“College can provide young men and women with important knowledge, skills, and experiences. However, it is no secret that navigating the college-going process can be challenging for families, especially for first-generation students,” said Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04). “I am so glad to see Oklahoma receive this multi-year GEAR UP grant, which will provide college-access support to Sapulpa students and families and hopefully grow the number of college graduates in our state.”
This is Oklahoma’s fifth consecutive GEAR UP grant. The award will provide approximately $5 million annually over the next seven years to provide education and direct student services to Sapulpa and 12 other rural school districts and over 16,000 students in seventh through 12th grade. In addition, Oklahoma GEAR UP will partner with five regional universities to offer support to students through their freshman year of college.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Oklahoma GEAR UP program to Sapulpa,” said Rob Armstrong, superintendent of schools. “This is an outstanding resource for our students to prepare them for college and set them up for success upon high school graduation.”
Through the Oklahoma GEAR UP V grant, Sapulpa students will receive direct support services including college campus tours; ACT preparation and testing; career exploration and college preparation courses; college application and enrollment assistance; funding for senior concurrent enrollment fees; and one-on-one guidance from GEAR UP staff and coaches at partnering universities. Oklahoma GEAR UP will offer college access and financial aid information to Sapulpa students and families through awareness activities and services, including Oklahoma’s Promise and FAFSA completion assistance.
In addition, GEAR UP will provide multiple services for emergency-certified, alternatively certified, and first-year teachers in the Sapulpa school district, including individualized instructional coaching. GEAR UP will also offer professional development opportunities to help teachers and faculty address student achievement, academic interventions and common assessments, with a particular focus on math outcomes.
“A fifth GEAR UP grant represents another tremendous investment in Oklahoma’s future – our students,” said Chancellor Sean Burrage. “By focusing on academic preparation, career exploration, and college planning, we are equipping Oklahomans with the tools they need to succeed in higher education and beyond.”
School districts selected to receive services through the Oklahoma GEAR UP Grant V include Ada, Altus, Clinton, Durant, Grove, Guthrie, Jay, Locust Grove, Noble, Sapulpa, Skiatook, Stilwell, and Tahlequah. Sapulpa is the largest district to receive the grant.
Through the new grant, GEAR UP will partner with the following Oklahoma institutions: University of Central Oklahoma, Northeastern State University, East Central University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
For more information about GEAR UP, visit https://okgearup.org.
About Oklahoma GEAR UP funding
The U.S. Department of Education awarded Oklahoma with a state GEAR UP grant totaling $20.5 million in 1999. The grant was supplemented with a one-year extension of $4.4 million in 2004. Oklahoma received additional GEAR UP grants totaling $20.6 million in 2005, $34.9 million in 2011 and $24 million in 2017. In September 2024, the State Regents were awarded a fifth consecutive GEAR UP grant in the amount of $34.7 million over the next seven years.
