The Get Ready Program

The Get Ready program is an early intervention and college awareness program preparing students from low-income families and from those groups traditionally underrepresented in college with college planning information, academic tutoring and career and higher education options. The program prepares elementary, middle and high school students for post-secondary education by providing them with the tools and experiences that will help motivate them to complete high school and pursue a post-secondary education. Get Ready is funded primarily by the U.S. Department of Education through a federal grant called GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) and is administered by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

Minnesota Office of Higher Education

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education is a cabinet-level state agency providing students with financial aid programs and information to help them gain access to post-secondary education. The agency serves as the state’s clearinghouse for data, research and analysis on post-secondary enrollment, financial aid, finance and trends.

High School for Reocording Arts

The High School for Recording Arts (HSRA), Independent Charter School District 4039, was established in 1998 as a music-based alternative school for students in grades 9 through 12.

HSRA engages students in the academic process by using exploration and operation of the music business as a foundation on which to build traditional academic skills.

Studio 4

HSRA educational programs operate in conjunction with Studio 4, an educational management company with a specialty in integrating its own its own professional recording studio with real-world, authentic learning. Student time is spent in a seamless, project-based learning environment that merges traditional academics with instruction in critical areas of the music business, including development of production and performance skills in the recording studio.

Another Level Records

Another Level Records (ALR), a student operated record label, allows learners to explore the operations of the music industry first hand as they discover and record new artists, negotiate contracts, and publish and copyright new music. They also manufacture, market and distribute recording projects completed by HSRA students as well as other artists. In addition to providing insight into the music industry, students participating in this program also gain valuable entrepreneurial skills necessary in starting their own businesses. ALR has released five CDs of HSRA student work to date and also produces its own radio program called The Fo-Show.