Baltimore City GEAR UP

The Baltimore City GEAR UP site served GEAR UP students at Rognel Heights and Lombard middle schools and now serves the cohort students at Digital Harbor High School and Walbrook High Uniform Services Academy. Two GEAR UP sites located in Baltimore were consolidated in FY 2003. Baltimore City GEAR UP now also serves GEAR UP students at Patterson High School. Digital Harbor High and Walbrook High Uniform Services Academy have resource centers to support the mathematics and writing programs offered by the GEAR UP staff and the site’s Towson University partnership projects.  Morgan State University continues to provide a summer mathematics/science summer enrichment program for the cohort. The program activities for the 2003-2004 school year include: (1) academic development through the implementation of a pre-college curriculum, tutoring, test preparation, academic counseling, financial aid workshops, and college visits; (2) social development through mentoring; and (3) strengthening support systems through home contacts, parent/student workshops, and professional development for the educational staff.

1100 Covington Street

Baltimore, MD 21230

443-984-1256 

2000 Edgewood Street

Baltimore, MD 21216

410-396-0721 

100 Kane Street

Baltimore, MD 21224

410-396-9276 

Program Contacts

Ms. Cynthia P. Johnson,
Title I Office
Baltimore City Public School System
cpjohnson@bcps.k12.md.us
410-545-6830  Phone

410-637-3028  Fax

Ms. Lynne Wilmer, On Site Facilitator
lwilmer@bcps.k12.md.us
410-545-6830 Phone

410-637-3028 Fax

Mr. Michael Pitroff, Principal/Director (Digital Harbor HS)
443-984-1256 Phone
410-539-7270  Fax

Ms. Shirley Cathorne, Principal (Walbrook High Uniform Services Academy)
410-396-0721 Phone
410-945-2712 Fax

Ms. Laura D'Anna, Principal (Patterson HS)

410-396-9276  Phone

410-633-0179  Fax

CPIP Grant Partners 

Project Title:              Academic Enrichment Academy

Project Director:        Dr. Dan Joseph

Department of Special Education

Coppin State College

2500 W.  North Avenue

Baltimore, MD 21216

                                    djoseph@coppin.edu

Project Abstract:

            Coppin State College (CSC) collaborates with the Baltimore City Public School System GEAR UP to provide academic enrichment services/activities to eleventh-grade students at Walbrook High Uniform Services Academy.   Specifically, this project implements two integrated activities geared to enhance the students’ potential for success in postsecondary education.

            The Academic Enrichment Academy (AEA) enhances the students’ knowledge through strong academic rigor and effective, accountable instruction focusing upon content knowledge critical to success on the S.A.T, such as language arts and mathematics.   The AEA served over students in five sessions during the summer of 2004.  The program plans to serve fifty students during the summer of 2005.   The AEA is offered on the Coppin State College campus to help enhance Walbrook students’ social development and cultural enrichment through association with mentors and interaction with college students.   

            The second project is the Parent-Student Forum sessions.  These sessions enhance the home support system of the GEAR UP students at Walbrook and their functional knowledge of critical topics associated with attending college after completion of high school.   Parent-Student Forum sessions inform parents and the Walbrook students of information critical to selecting and surviving postsecondary school.

Project Title:              GEAR UP for College with English and Technology Readiness at Towson University

Project Director:        Dr. Gloria Chou, Shelley Etzine, Lynda Mermell

                                    Center for Economic and Community Outreach

Towson University

                                    8000 York Road

Towson, MD 21252

                                    gchou@towson.edu

 Project Abstract:

Project Title:       High Standards and High Expectations in High School in

                             Preparation for College

Project Director:        Dr. Barbara Bass

                                    Maryland Writing Project

Towson University

                                    8000 York Road

Towson, MD 21252

                                    bbass@towson.edu

 Project Abstract:

The Maryland Writing Project (MWP) and Towson University (TU) work with Baltimore City GEAR UP and three Baltimore City high schools—Digital Harbor, Patterson, and Walbrook—to offer students an intensive school-based writing program throughout the academic year to improve students writing skills while preparing them for the revised SAT exam. Students are also offered scholarships to attend the Summer Student Writers’ Workshop at Towson University.  MWP will also offer Project TeamWork during the spring semester at the high schools, a program that provides tutoring and mentoring for GEAR UP students by TU scholar-athletes. 

For teachers, MWP provides targeted professional development through Maryland State Department of Education in-service courses and coaching at the schools.   TU offers scholarships for some teacher to attend the MWP 5-week invitational Summer Teacher Institute, where they receive intensive training in professional development that prepares them to work with other teachers in their schools.  Scholarships for Praxis preparation strategies courses are offered for provisional teachers of GEAR UP students, who will be taking the exams to become certified.  

TU coordinates parent/guardian information nights that provide information on the college application process.   TU also provides Saturday Academies on campus where students are offered hands-on activities in writing, math, and SAT preparation.   Parents and students are presented with scholarship and other financial aid information, and TU provides career and college awareness activities that link career knowledge to educational requirements.