Congressman Fattah is planning to build on the program’s achievements.  He has introduced reauthorization legislation entitled the GEAR UP & GO ACT, which offers additional resources for college bound students. Two of the major highlights of the new and improved GEAR UP include; the ability for students to enroll in college level courses while still in high school and the opportunity for students to continue their GEAR UP  participation through the first year of college.

GEAR UP receives enthusiastic support from educational leaders around the country.  As GEAR UP’s architect, Congressman Fattah is the sought after authority on this measure speaking at conferences around the country.  In the coming weeks, Congressman Fattah will be spotlighting the effectiveness and success of GEAR UP when he addresses State conferences in Burbank, California and Wichita, Kansas.

The congressman hopes to encourage more school systems, community based organizations and businesses to develop GEAR UP partnerships. To date, GEAR UP operates in over 47 states, the District of Columbia and 3 U.S. territories; it exists as the federal government’s only whole school K-16 education reform model.  Over the last five years, Congress has appropriated $1.5 billion to the program.

Nationally recognized for his innovative educational reform programs, Congressman Fattah has spearheaded major initiatives in education policy. In addition to GEAR UP, Congressman Fattah has introduced ‘The Student Bill of Rights,’ H.R. 236.  He hopes to get a vote on the bill by May 17^th, the 50^th Anniversary of Brown vs. Board. H. R. 236 will require States to certify that their Public School System operates on an equal statewide basis offering all students access to some of the proven educational inputs necessary to achieve high academic outcomes.