This dissertation includes three chapters focusing on policies directly related to improving college access and success. The first chapter focuses on lifetime eligibility of federal and state financial aid policies. The Pell Grant plays a critical role in helping students across the US to afford undergraduate education. In spite of its importance…

This applied dissertation was designed to determine the effectiveness of a college access program created to improve college application and acceptance rates for underserved students. The program is targeted toward low-income, first-generation students, many of whom are minorities and reside in a rural area. The schools that the students attended…

The Kauffman School is a public, tuition-free charter school serving Kansas City students. In the 2019-20 school year, the school enrolled 1,186 students in grades 5 through 12. Most (88 percent) of the students were low income, and 89 percent were Black or Hispanic. To measure the impact of the Kauffman School on its students, the authors…

Recent decades have seen a proliferation of programs that target first-generation college students, often low-income or minority students, for recruitment to college or that aim to improve campus participation and retention among these populations. Such programs simultaneously address themselves toward academic performance and the conditions of…

This report assesses whether significant differences existed in the postsecondary enrollment, employment, and earnings of 2011 AISD high school graduates, based on their Career and Technical Education (CTE) participation, industry certification status, and eligibility for articulated college credit. [This report was funded by a federal Carl D.…

This report summarizes 2006-2007 evaluation results of AISD's Project ADVANCE activities. Project ADVANCE staff worked with high school students and their parents to prepare students for postsecondary enrollment.

This report summarizes the 2000-2001 program evaluation results of AISD's AVID program, a program designed to help underachieving students with academic potential prepare for entrance into colleges and universities.

This report summarizes the 2004-2005 program evaluation results of AISD's GEAR UP program, a program that encourages and supports students' rates of high school graduation and post-secondary enrollment.

This report summarizes 2003-2004 program evaluation results for AISD's GEAR UP program to prepare an identified cohort of students for postsecondary enrollment.