Kentucky celebrates 25 years of GEAR UP and #GEARUPworks Day

May 01, 2025

On May 1, the Commonwealth of Kentucky proudly recognized #GEARUPworks Day, as officially proclaimed by Governor Andy Beshear, in celebration of 25 years of GEAR UP’s impact on students, families, and communities across the state. This milestone highlights a legacy of expanding opportunity and increasing college and career readiness for Kentucky students.

Since 2000, GEAR UP Kentucky, the state grant administered by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE), has helped more than 66,000 students across 91 school districts prepare for education and training beyond high school. Together with the West Kentucky Educational Cooperative and Partners for Rural Impact, GEAR UP programs currently serve more than 55,000 students in Kentucky.

“This is about more than just one moment - it's about every moment that helps build our future Kentucky workforce,” said Dr. Aaron Thompson, President of CPE. “We’re proud to celebrate a program that works - and has worked for more than two decades - to give Kentucky students the tools to succeed. GEAR UP partners with local communities to deliver proven, research-based support to help students from low-income backgrounds navigate their paths to post-high school education or training - and that’s exactly what makes it so powerful.”

GEAR UP works by partnering directly with middle and high schools, colleges, families, and local communities to deliver services such as career exploration, advising, college tours, FAFSA workshops, and teacher training. Only schools where a majority of students are from low-income households are eligible for GEAR UP, and additional criteria are considered during selection.

GEAR UP Kentucky project results across multiple grants speak to the impact of the program:

• More students were academically prepared for post-high school education: Every year since 2011, GUK student cohorts have outperformed their KY peers from economically disadvantaged backgrounds with:
• Higher ACT scores
• Higher high school GPAs
• Higher college GPAs
•  Gaps in high school graduation rates were reversed: GUK schools have met or exceeded statewide graduation rates in all participating graduating classes since 2012.
• More students applied for college and financial aid: Every GUK graduating cohort has completed the FAFSA at rates higher than state and national rates every year since 2019, and the number of GUK high school seniors applying to college increased 44 percentage points since 2020.
• More students entered postsecondary education: Every GUK graduating class since 2011 exceeded the college-going rate of all KY low income students by at least 7 percentage points.
• More students persisted in college: Since 2020, GUK students attending a public KY colleges or universities have returned for their second year of college at higher rates as compared to all KY low-income students.
• More community investment: More than $80 million in local matching funds and over 230 community partnerships have supported GUK since 2000.

“GEAR UP helped us understand what college would really take—financially, academically, emotionally,” said Kim Proffitt, a GEAR UP parent from Frankfort High School. “We’re not alone in this anymore. We have support, and that means everything.”

“As a principal, I see the impact daily,” said Thad Elmore, Principal of Frankfort High School. “GEAR UP brings resources, relationships, and real results to our school. This program isn’t just working - it’s transforming futures.”

To learn more about how #GEARUPworks in Kentucky, visit gearupky.org/gearupworks.