Academic Organizations

 State of Texas

Offers FREE ACT or SAT EXAM to Class of 2011 this Summer!

Dear GEAR UP Parent/Student,

Texas Education Agency (TEA) recently announced that Texas high school juniors will have an opportunity to take one free college entrance exam -- the ACT or SAT – this spring and early summer.  Below is an excerpt from TEA’s press release in March:

High school juniors may register for either the May 1 or June 5 administration of the SAT or the April 10 or June 12 ACT, and the state will pay the cost of their regular registration fee.

The registration period has already closed for the April ACT test.  However, if a student has already registered for that exam or any of the other designated tests offered in May or June and has already paid for it, the vendor will reimburse the registration fee.  The deadline for the June 5 test is May 5.  The deadline for the June 12 ACT is May 7.

Officials with the SAT and ACT testing programs are contacting students, parents and counselors directly to provide information about how to access this program.   The standard fee to register for the ACT plus its writing exam is $47. The standard fee for the SAT is $45.

Registration information for the SAT is available at www.sat.collegeboard.com. Information about the ACT is available at http://www.act.org/aap/texas/.

Enclosed you will find information taken directly from the ACT and SAT websites.  You may obtain a “voucher” from the high school as they become available.  Students will receive vouchers on a first come, first serve basis.  If your child does not act quickly, vouchers may not be available.  Please note that you—parents and students—will be responsible for registering for the exam.  If you have any questions, please contact Bridget Trawhon at trawhonb@westsabine.esc7.net.

Mike Ogden, Principal

Kay Welch, Dean of Student Services

Bridget Trawhon, GEAR UP Coordinator

GEAR UP --Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness for Undergraduate Programs

GEAR UP is a partnership with 10 East Texas schools, Stephen F. Austin State University, Angelina College, Angelina/Lufkin County Chamber of Commerce, and Top Ladies of Distinction.  The goal of the collaboration is to increase post secondary education in the partner schools.  The grant is funded by the United States Department of Education and directly benefits the Class of 2011, while the entire West Sabine Secondary School benefits indirectly. 

West Sabine's GEAR UP consists of a 9 member Council that meets periodically to coordinate and implement the grant's goals.  For more information about GEAR UP, click on   

                    http://www.gearuptexas.com/about.html

East Texas GEAR UP is an effort to assist ten rural school districts in East Texas in achieving the structural, cultural, and instructional changes that lead to increased student participation in academically challenging secondary courses.

East Texas GEAR UP will provide services to one cohort of 1548 students from 7th grade through 12th grade.

East Texas GEAR UP is a six year program funded by a 6.1 million dollar grant from the federal government.

East Texas GEAR UP Project Partners include:

Ten School Districts

• Center ISD
• Central ISD
• Diboll ISD
• Hemphill ISD
• Hudson ISD
• Lufkin ISD
• West Sabine ISD
• Woodville ISD
• Zavalla ISD

Two Post Secondary Education Institutions

• Angelina College
• Stephen F. Austin State University

Two Community Organizations

• Angelina/Lufkin County Chamber of Commerce
• Top Ladies of Distinction

GEAR UP Contacts

For more information on the federal grant, click on

http://www.ed.gov/programs/gearup/performance.html