CLEVELAND – College Now Greater Cleveland and Bedford City School District will partner to implement the Ohio Department of Higher Education’s recently funded GEAR UP Ohio program. GEAR UP Ohio allows College Now to provide college access programming and services in Bedford City Schools as well as to provide technical assistance to service providers across Ohio. Of the $28 million seven-year federal award, $2.1 million of which will benefit students and families of Bedford City Schools.
GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federal program designed to increase postsecondary educational attainment and success rates among students from low-income backgrounds. Through GEAR UP Ohio, College Now will deliver services to students at Heskett Middle School and Bedford High School.
College Now advisors will guide students through career pathways exploration, evaluating postsecondary options, entrance exam preparation, and financial aid counseling. Participants will also engage in after-school programming and college and career visits throughout the school year and summer. Additionally, participants will be eligible for scholarships upon high school graduation. Advisors will also engage parents and families to provide education about postsecondary opportunities, preparation, and financing.
“We are thrilled by the opportunity to work with Bedford students, families, and educators through GEAR UP Ohio,” said Lee Friedman, CEO of College Now. “We know that postsecondary education continues to be a pivotal factor in achieving economic self-sufficiency and the support provided by the GEAR UP program will allow us to help guide Bedford students into bright futures.”
Dr. Andrea Celico, superintendent of the Bedford City School District, said the program will expose more Bedford students to the possibility of college and what it can offer.
“We couldn’t be happier to work with College Now Greater Cleveland Inc. through GEAR UP to bring more opportunities for exploring college options to Bedford students,” she said. “Additionally, the program will potentially offer scholarships to our students. GEAR UP is a great initiative and I’m very pleased that Bedford has been selected to be a part of it. Our participation and selection is thanks to the hard work of Dr. Cassandra Johnson, assistant superintendent; who led the effort, Diane Schentur, our director of human resources; Kenneth Elder, director of student services; Kim Sterlekar and Christopher Thompson, principals of Heskett Middle School and Bedford High School, respectively; and Karla Robinson, associate high school principal.”
In addition to College Now, five other sites across Ohio were selected to carry out GEAR UP programming. Collectively, GEAR UP Ohio partners will serve over 8,000 students each year among 17 different middle and high schools in Bedford, Conneaut, Mansfield, Reynoldsburg, Mt. Healthy, and North College Hill. Funded competitively across states by the U.S. Department of Education, GEAR UP Ohio will bring $28 million in federal support and $28 million in matching support for services and scholarships to students from these six economically disadvantaged Ohio communities through 2028.
About College Now Greater Cleveland, Inc.
College Now provides Greater Cleveland students with guidance and access to funds to prepare for and graduate from college. For more than 50 years, our goal has been to help students pursue educational opportunities that empower them to embark on rewarding careers and strengthen our community. College Now assists more than 30,000 students each year, delivering college access advising, financial aid counseling, and scholarship and retention services in five Northeast Ohio counties, in the College Now Resource Center and through community-based programs. For more information, visit www.collegenowgc.org.
About Bedford City School District: The Bedford City School District serves about 3,000 students in Bedford, Bedford Heights, Oakwood and Walton Hills. The school district is located in southeast Cuyahoga County, about 15 minutes from Cleveland. BCSD encompasses six schools within a 22-square mile area.
