MGI logo CUNY Middle Grades Initiative
students parents partners GEAR UP 2000-2005 professional staff
what is the Middle Grades Initiative?
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continuing my education
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MGI for parents & families
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MGI and my child
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N.Y. High School Graduation Requirements
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frequently asked questions

What is the CUNY Middle Grades Initiative/GEAR UP?

To put it plainly, CUNY Middle Grades Initiative (MGI) wants to help your child succeed in school. Not only that, we also want to better prepare your child for rigorous high school, and eventually college-level work. To do this, we:

  • Place trained tutors in your child's math and English classes to work with students one-on-one and in small groups. Tutors work with classroom teachers and other school staff to assess your child's academic progress.
  • Assign trained and experienced advisors in your child's school to work closely with the school's guidance office. Our advisors help students set academic and personal goals and introduce college as a very real and attainable step after high school.
  • Offer your high-schooler opportunities to take college credit courses through CUNY's College Now program. For more information on this program, click here.

Through MGI, your child will have the opportunity to participate in many fun and engaging activities, such as:

  • College visits to the school's host college or other colleges in the New York City metro area
  • Two arts performances per year through Community Works Theater Connections.
  • A series of in-class theater workshops that enhance literacy and foster critical thinking skills through the Creative Arts Team.
  • After-school clubs and Homework Help
  • Saturday programs

Find out more about our partner schools and colleges.

For more information on CUNY MGI, please contact us.

What is CUNY GEAR UP?

Beginning in fall 2006, CUNY initiated a 6-year federal GEAR UP partnership grant in the amount of $4.8 million to support our Middle Grades Initiative (MGI). The federal GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) partnership focuses on supporting students from middle school through high school to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Through the grant, we will serve 1,000 7th-grade students as our GEAR UP cohort through 2012.

This year's 7th-graders, our GEAR UP cohort, receive identical services to those in our MGI program and may have the opportunity to receive additional services through our New York State GEAR UP partners.

For more information on the US Department of Education's GEAR UP program, see their website.
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