Annual Workplan Process
All USU STARS! GEAR UP activities implemented by a school district must follow an approved annual USU STARS! GEAR UP workplan and budget. A workplan for each school is due to the USU STARS! GEAR UP Administrative Team by May 5th each year. A single budget may be created for the entire LEA
Schools that are able to plan effectively tend to have the best outcomes. The workplan is designed to assist school districts in clearly articulating their plans to serve USU STARS! GEAR UP students and meet USU STARS! GEAR UP goals and objectives. During implementation, the USU STARS! GEAR UP Administrative Team will provide procedures to amend the workplan.
Students Served
The grades of USU STARS! GEAR UP students that will be served, by academic year, are:
| Grant Year | Lead Cohort |
|---|---|
| 1 | 7th |
| 2 | 8th |
| 3 | 9th |
| 4 | 10th |
| 5 | 11th |
| 6 | 12th |
| 7 | College Freshmen |
Workplan Activities
A workplan template will be provided by the Administrative Team to assist site coordinators and key personnel in developing the annual workplan. The site coordinator and school principal are required to sign-off on workplans prior to submission for approval.
When developing school workplans, include activities that:
- Are required in the Student/Family Activities listed below.
- Will be sponsored by USU STARS! GEAR UP
- Will not be sponsored by USU STARS! GEAR UP but address the USU STARS! GEAR UP objectives
Student/Family activities must include at least one service in the following areas:
- Tutoring/homework assistance
- Rigorous academic curricula
- Comprehensive mentoring
- Financial aid counseling/advising
- Counseling/advising/academic planning/career counseling
- College campus visits/college student shadowing
- Job site visit/job shadowing
- Summer programs
- Educational field trips
- Workshops supporting any of the USU STARS! GEAR UP objectives
- Workshops on college preparation/financial aid
- Counseling/advising
- College visits
- Family events
Additional services may include Professional Developments for Educators
- Conferences - Must be GEAR UP sponsored or have prior approval
- Trainings
Additional activities may include participating in events put on by USU STARS! GEAR UP partners, including:
- GEAR UP Week
- Science/Math/English Teacher's conference sessions
- Common Core Standards trainings
Collaboration
USU STARS! GEAR UP site coordinators are expected to collaborate with school counselors, teachers, the local community, collaboration partners, and the USU STARS! GEAR UP Administrative Team. USU STARS! GEAR UP site coordinators should leverage the expertise of others to ensure the most effective services are being provided to all students in eligible grades at USU STARS! GEAR UP schools.
