JPS Launches Seven-Year GEAR UP Initiative to Expand College and Career Opportunities for Scholars

Jackson Public Schools is beginning implementation of a seven-year GEAR UP initiative supported by a $10.67 million federal grant designed to help scholars explore careers, prepare for college and build a plan for life after high school.

The initiative was formally announced during a press conference featuring JPS Superintendent Dr. Errick L. Greene and representatives from several of the district’s GEAR UP partners.

GEAR UP will follow participating scholars from middle school through high school graduation and into their first year of postsecondary education, providing sustained opportunities for academic preparation, career exploration, college exposure, mentoring and family support.

“This ensures our scholars do not have to navigate their future alone,” said Superintendent Dr. Errick L. Greene. “By connecting scholars with mentors, exposing them to new opportunities and providing meaningful support, we can help them build a clear path toward their goals. This investment in our scholars strengthens not only their future but also the future of our community and state.”

Serving Scholars Across Six JPS Schools

The GEAR UP initiative will serve scholars attending:

• Blackburn Middle School
• Brinkley Middle School
• Cardozo Middle School
• Kirksey Middle School
• Lanier Junior Senior High School
• Peeples Middle School

The program will provide long-term support as scholars progress through JPS and prepare for their next steps after graduation.

More Than a College Visit

GEAR UP is designed to give scholars more time, experiences and support to explore their interests and prepare for their futures.

Through the initiative, scholars will have opportunities to:

• Explore careers through hands-on experiences, mentors and immersive career activities.
• Experience college firsthand through campus visits and connections with college faculty and students.
• Strengthen academic skills through enrichment, intervention and preparation for college-level work.
• Understand college access through guidance on applications, financial aid and scholarships.
• Connect learning to careers through work-based learning, career experiences and dual-credit opportunities.
• Engage families by providing parents and caregivers with information and resources to support postsecondary planning.
• Receive support beyond graduation as they transition into college and other postsecondary opportunities.

A Partnership Built Around Scholar Success

The initiative brings together higher education institutions, education organizations, career exploration programs and arts and cultural organizations to provide experiences that extend beyond the classroom.

Key partners include Jackson State University, EduShift, The Kirkland Group, Lobaki, Hinds Community College, the Mississippi Museum of Art, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and Tougaloo College, which is a future partner included in the grant for expanded dual-credit opportunities.

Jackson State University will provide college exposure, academic and career pathway clubs and camps, mentoring and opportunities for scholars to experience a university environment.

EduShift will help JPS monitor progress, measure outcomes and use data to strengthen implementation throughout the seven-year initiative. The Kirkland Group will support academic instruction through professional learning and academic support.

Lobaki will provide immersive learning and career discovery experiences, while Hinds Community College will help scholars and families navigate college options, admissions, financial aid and the transition to postsecondary education.

The Mississippi Museum of Art and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History will provide cultural and career experiences that expand scholars’ creativity, leadership, knowledge and understanding of Mississippi’s history and heritage.

Building a Longer Pathway to Success

JPS leaders say the strength of GEAR UP is its long-term approach.

“College preparation should begin long before a scholar’s senior year,” said Jackson State University President Dr. Denise Gregory. “We value our growing partnership with Jackson Public Schools, and GEAR UP provides another opportunity to support scholars earlier through campus tours, academic and career-focused clubs and camps, mentoring and college-transition guidance.”

Hinds Community College President Dr. Stephen Vacik also emphasized the importance of introducing scholars to postsecondary opportunities early. “Our GEAR UP Mississippi partnership with Jackson Public Schools allows us to reach students early and help them see what is possible,” said Dr. Vacik. “We want JPS students to experience Hinds firsthand, see themselves as part of our college community and know that Hinds can be a pathway to their future.”

The $10.67 million investment gives JPS the opportunity to stay connected with scholars long enough to help them move from exploration to preparation to action.

A scholar may begin GEAR UP wondering what comes next. Along the way, that scholar could discover a career interest, visit a college campus, connect with a professional, earn college credit, learn how to navigate financial aid and graduate with a clearer plan for the future.

GEAR UP gives JPS scholars more time and opportunities to explore their interests, prepare for success, and build a future they can envision for themselves.