Education Service Center Region 12

For Release:
March 30, 2005

News Media Contact: Jennifer Marshall-Higgins
Title: Communications Coordinator
Phone: (254) 297-1198
E-mail: jhiggins@esc12.net

NEW APPROPRIATION TO HELP HILL AND BOSQUE COUNTY
STUDENTS “GEAR UP” FOR COLLEGE

WACO, TEXAS – Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 in collaboration with local colleges and universities will begin GEAR UP, a national student development program in Hill and Bosque counties later this year.

The $496,000 in funding granted to ESC Region 12 will help Hill and Bosque County schools to reduce school dropout rates and prepare at-risk students for college. At a time when funding for the program is low nationwide, ESC region 12 and the selected counties are thankful for the monies and the opportunity to help area students.

Eligible students will be paired with a mentor who will educate them about the many aspects of college life and what it takes to get there. The program classes will be taught with DVDs and other visual aides to keep the students excited. To provide students with the most hands-on college experience, GEAR UP will also take field trips to local colleges and universities.
“ Allowing the kids to walk around the campuses, ask questions, and to talk one-on-one to active college students is a great way to inspire young teens to strive for greatness,” said Will Lowrance, the Honorable Mayor of Hillsboro.

The GEAR UP Program would not have been possible with out the strong support of the Mayor Lowrance who also works part-time as the director of community/government relations for ESC Region 12.

About GEAR UP

The GEAR UP program is a discretionary grant program designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post secondary education. More information about the program is available at http://www.ed.gov/programs/gearup/index.html.

About ESC Region 12

ESC Region 12 assists 78 independent school districts and 11 charter schools in attaining the Texas Education Agency's goals and objectives. One of twenty regional education service centers in Texas, ESC Region 12 provides professional development and technical assistance for the purpose of improving student performance for all students so that no child is left behind. Based in Waco with satellite offices in Copperas Cove, Corsicana, Goldthwaite, Hillsboro, and Teague, Region 12 encompasses 11,318 square miles and includes Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Lampasas, Limestone, Mills, McLennan and Navarro counties.

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