One state and eight partnership GEAR UP grants submitted timely and accurate annual performance reports (APRs) to the U. S. Department of Education, thanks in large part to AED's recently launched Performance Online Evaluation Tracking System ("POETS™"). POETS™ is an online database that allows GEAR UP grantees to enter demographic, participation, outcome, and survey data required by the APR. POETS™ is the only GEAR UP database tool on the market that allows for online data entry (allowing data to be entered from any time, any place) and provides data cleaning technology that automatically identifies common data errors (such as duplicate entries or incorrect mapping of courses). In this APR cycle, POETS™ tracked nearly 32,000 students. Dr. Jewel Lockridge, Director of GEAR UP Waco (TX) and AED client, said, "POETS™ enables us to accurately and efficiently manage program data collection. Project data and reports required for APR completion are generated with the click of the computer mouse."

In addition to providing POETS™ and evaluation services, AED was integral in the writing of proposals leading to over $6 million in annual funding for five of these eight grantees.

The GEAR UP program, funded by the US Department of Education, is designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education.