The University of Washington State GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) Project was established in 1999 in partnership with the Office of the Governor, the University of Washington (UW) College of Arts and Sciences, and the State of Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board. Our Project, part of a national effort to help students from low-income families plan for and succeed in higher education, is funded primarily by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education with additional support from the UW Office of the Provost and the Office of the UW College of Arts and Sciences.

We are a university-based pre-college program serving students and teachers in statewide networks of middle and high schools. Student initiatives include: Summer Institute (a college awareness and readiness program) and the Honors Academy (rigorous academic instruction in math and language arts). The teacher initiative, the Collaborative for Instructional Development (CID), provides professional development for educators who work with GEAR UP students. These programs are designed to meet the following three objectives of the national GEAR UP program:

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