Resources
Free resources for educators to support college and career-readiness work.
Oregon GEAR UP offers a variety of publications and toolkits that help advance our mission of increasing the college attendance and success for low-income students. They are all available for free download below.
Resources
Download Logo
Coordinators are encouraged to use the GEAR UP logo on materials sponsored by the program. Please do not alter the logo or colors in any way or stretch, warp, or crop the image. You may also use the Oregon Goes To College logo.
To download the Oregon GEAR UP logo, click on the image to open it in a new tab. Then, right-click the image and select 'Save image as..."
Distribute to all students new to GEAR UP each year as part of the federal requirements for GEAR UP. Download this Word version to easily mail merge with a list of your students.
Toolkits
Download the Communications Toolkit
In order to create a college-going culture in your school and community, it is critical to have regular communication with students, parents, staff and the community. Use this toolkit to assess current communications efforts and create a simple yet strategic work plan for each audience.
- Download additional resources:
Download the Community Engagement Toolkit
Partnerships between schools and communities help reinforce and sustain a college-going culture. This toolkit provides a simple guide to identify potential partners and needs as well as communication strategies to build long-term, successful partnerships between the school and the community.
- Download additional resources:
Download the GEAR UP Week Toolkit
Hold a GEAR UP Week at your school to kick off the year with fun and exciting activities (but without a lot of energy on your part!) that encourage a college-going culture in your school and community. You can use these materials during National GEAR UP Week or any time that works for you. This toolkit has everything you need to put on a week of programs designed to get the word out about GEAR UP and the importance of going to college.
- Download additional resources:
Advocate for GEAR UP with confidence using this Media Kit. Learn how to craft compelling messages, reach out to stakeholders, and use social media to amplify your story. Build a strong case for the value of college readiness programs.
- Download resources:
- Advocacy Contacts
- (More resources coming soon!)
Download the Parent Engagement Toolkit
Parent and family engagement is a critical element of student success. Our toolkit includes information and resources to help assess school climate and educate staff, as well as additional customizable resources.
- Download additional resources:
- Related resources
- Monthly newsletters for families in grades 7-12 (English and Spanish)
- Middle School Parent Guide (English)
- Middle School Parent Guide (Spanish)
Download the Transition to High School Toolkit
Learn about research-based strategies that help students and parents tackle the transition from middle to high school and the associated social and academic challenges. Includes best practices from Oregon GEAR UP schools.
- Download additional resources:
Publications
Job Shadow Guide
A self-reflection and evaluation tool for students participating in job shadows. Designed to be printed as a folded booklet on 8.5"x11" paper.
Middle School Parent Guide
A downloadable guide for parents of middle school students on the steps to take in 6th, 7th and 8th grades to prepare for college. Also available in Spanish. Designed to be printed as a folded booklet on 8.5"x11" paper.
Parent Newsletters
Monthly parent newsletters with college readiness information for grades 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12, plus quarterly newsletters for parents of college students. Add your events and contact information to customize for your school! Also available in Spanish.
Download Parent Newsletters (English)
Download Parent Newsletter (Spanish)
Parent Workshops
A series of workshops for parents including basic information about GEAR UP, colleges and financial aid. Includes agendas and PowerPoints.
Download Parent Workshops
Posters: The Benefits of College
Help create a college-going culture in your classroom and school hallways by adorning the walls with this series of 11"x17" posters that share why students should go to college. Note: In order to print properly, you may need to save the PDF to your desktop first.
Undocumented Students in Oregon
Information for educators, students and parents about applying and paying for college for undocumented students. Includes links to scholarship lists and other helpful resource guides; download it in Spanish as well. Designed to be printed as a folded booklet on 8.5"x11" paper.
Oregon College Savings Plan & GEAR UP - Show Me The Money! PowerPoint Presentation
Learn how Oregon GEAR UP and the Oregon College Savings Plan can help your students save for college. This presentation is a fun and easy way to introduce families to the partnership between Oregon GEAR UP and the Oregon College Savings Plan. You can download the presentation, make some minor edits, and deliver it without much preparation. It only takes 20 minutes, is fully scripted, and it's interactive.
Additional Resources
If you can’t find a resource above to meet your needs, we encourage you to check out Oregon Goes To College for additional toolkits, resources, activities, and more. This organization supports students, families, and educators to explore, apply, pay, and go to education beyond high school. Sign up for the Oregon Goes To College newsletter to get bi-weekly updates on college access news and resources.