CTL Coordinates 2009 Institute for a College-Going Culture

May 11, 2009

On March 4, 2009, more than 300 educators from across Kentucky gathered in Louisville for the second annual GEAR UP Alliance Institute for a College-Going Culture: Transition and the GEAR UP Student.  The conference featured 16 different concurrent sessions for administrators, teachers, counselors and others on increasing academic rigor, and enhancing attitudes, beliefs and culture to help at-risk students prepare for college. 

CTL organized and coordinated the Institute in consultation with the GEAR UP Alliance, which includes GEAR UP Kentucky, its seven regions based at Western Kentucky University, Hazard Community and Technical College, Morehead State University, Murray State University, the University of Louisville, Fayette County Public Schools, and the Northern Kentucky Council of Partners, and three independent GEAR UP partnerships at the Western Kentucky Educational Cooperative, the Green River Regional Educational Cooperative, and Berea College. 

GEAR UP Kentucky, based in Frankfort under the auspices of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, is a United States Department of Education-funded initiative that works with partnerships of schools, colleges, businesses, community, and non-profit organizations to provide interventions and services that prepare underserved middle and high school students to attend college.

At the March Institute, Helen Mountjoy, Secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Education and Workforce Development, brought greetings from Governor Steve Beshear and information about state education priorities and plans for the future, including increased statewide emphasis on college attendance for all students.

The keynote address was delivered by Ranjit Sidhu, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at ACT, Inc.  Sidhu discussed ACT’s College Readiness standards and the importance of reaching out to underserved students and promoting achievement to ensure postsecondary success.

Concurrent sessions, designed to provide attendees with opportunities for interaction and reflection, were offered on topics including rigorous mathematics and science content and instructional practice, fostering academic achievement for all students, creating positive classroom culture and teacher-student relationships, the Individual Learning Plan from a student perspective, curriculum alignment with ACT College Readiness Standards, Kentucky Virtual Schools, and strategies to address students' social and emotional development such as e-mentoring.  Presenters were from the Kentucky Department of Education, GEAR UP Kentucky, school districts and public and private universities from within and outside of Kentucky, and CTL.

The Institute concluded with opportunity sessions during which attendees met with their colleagues by GEAR UP region and partnership to reflect on information gathered throughout the day, and to begin planning for implementation of new strategies to prepare students for postsecondary education.

Presentations, materials and other information distributed on March 4 can be accessed through the Institute's website.

For more information, contact:
Deborah Walker
v: 502.895.9500 x328