Norman, OKLA. – The University of Oklahoma's K20 Center is proud to unveil its groundbreaking initiative, “GEAR UP for LIFE,” aimed at reshaping educational opportunities for students across 27 partner schools in Oklahoma. This initiative, forged in collaboration with under-resourced schools, is designed to empower students and their families for successful college pursuits and workforce training.
This visionary initiative marks a historic milestone for the University of Oklahoma's K20 Center, securing $86 million for its cohort of 8,258 sixth and seventh grade students. “GEAR UP for LIFE is the largest grant in the nearly 30-year history of OU’s K20 Center,” said Dr. Gregg Garn, vice president for online learning and executive director of the K20 Center. “Students benefiting from the grant will be better prepared to help grow the workforce necessary to ensure Oklahoma’s continued economic prosperity.”
The program is designed to support students comprehensively, partnering with schools, teachers, and community leaders to enrich education for cohort students. With the seven-year GEAR UP for LIFE grant, the K20 Center will support students through the end of high school and equip them with the skills and support network they need to successfully attend—and graduate from—college or other postsecondary education institutions.
“LIFE will support cohort schools and students by increasing students’ behavioral, cognitive, and emotional engagement in learning; increasing academic preparedness for college; aiding students’ families in understanding postsecondary education options, preparation, and financial aid; and increasing high school graduation and college enrollment,” said Dr. Leslie Williams, K20 Center Director.
“GEAR UP for LIFE represents the best of a school-university collaborative partnership, in which the school educators work with university researchers to adapt evidence-based practices to support their students’ learning, exploration of potential careers, and to demystify the educational opportunities that follow a student’s high school career,” said Dr. Scott Wilson, Associate Director of Innovative Learning and Primary Investigator on the GEAR UP grants at the K20 Center.
The GEAR UP for LIFE initiative builds upon the K20 Center’s legacy of innovation and educational reform. Over the past three decades, the K20 Center has championed collaborative outreach, innovative technology integration, and transformative community connections, positively influencing education at local and global levels.
To learn more about how GEAR UP for LIFE is transforming educational pathways and empowering students, visit GEAR UP Partnerships - K20 Center (ou.edu)