Today i had an opportunity to explore California's GEAR UP program.  First of all i was impressed with the website  that served as a hub for all  of the program sites.  Of particular interest and excitement to me was the family engagement discourse.  At first glance on the website you get the sense that families and communities are important.  There is a Parent Institute & Quality Education arm of the program that spearheads family /parent engagement.  Very encouraging--there is also an accompanying project research model and there is more.  This research model begins for this year's middle school cohort and is titled the Family Initiatives project.  Anyway i should have a copy available tomorrow for everyone to look at.

I also see where the CA GEAR UP program will be presenting a workshop at the DC conference on social media and advocacy and there will also be a presentation by their director.

I did see the email from Kelli--the doc student and sounds like her research questions and model is timely for our mixed methodology evaluation model.  Again, i think looking at California's model might give some additional insights.

Ok that's all for now and i am sure more dialogue will take place tomorrow.