The K20 Center for Educational and Community Renewal is a statewide research and development center located on the research campus of the University of Oklahoma. Through K20, schools receive cohort grants through the 7-year Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, or GEAR UP, that are designed to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in college.
GEAR UP grant funding begins with cohort groups in middle school and yearly installments follow them throughout their senior year in high school providing emphasis on college visits, career exploration, and other activities to prepare students for post-secondary education, along with providing sustainable resources that educators can use for future classes after the cohort moves forward.
Marietta Public Schools received a GEAR UP grant that began with seventh and eighth graders during the 2018-19 school year.
During that first year of implementation, the grant proceeds totaled $13,150, which were used to buy Kindle tablets used to promote reading. Additionally, Swivl Bots were purchased. These devices swivel back and forth, keeping the teacher in a camera frame, recording the teacher as they deliver their lesson. The lesson can then be uploaded for students to watch if they’re sick, quarantined, or just need reinforcement.
Additionally, iPads were purchased for student use and students visited college campuses at the University of North Texas and Murray State College.
Part of the cohort group moved into the high school during the 2020-21 school year, where more Swivl Bots were purchased, along with sound equipment.
“The sound equipment was used for several things,” said High School Principal Adam Sherfield. “For instance, our band and choirs used it to record their auditions and send them for competitions that they couldn’t attend in person because of the pandemic.”
This year, the cohort classes are high school freshmen and sophomores.
“We just received our grant proceeds for this year and ordered roughly $32,000 of equipment!” said Sherfield. “About $18,000 of it went to video equipment for our new Tomahawk Talk class.”
In Tomahawk Talk, students are learning video production, a valuable skill set they’ll be using to produce and post videos of things happening in school.
Grant proceeds have also been used to promote college and career readiness, as well as to purchase a program called No Red Ink, an English Language Arts program designed to help English teachers better identify and address students’ strengths and weaknesses in English grammar and composition.
As the cohort continues to move through the district, GEAR UP funds will follow them, not only preparing students for post-secondary success, but leaving the school system with equipment that can be used for years in the future.