In 1998, Congress authorized the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) program. The purpose of the program is to foster increased knowledge, expectations, and preparation for postsecondary education among low-income students and their families. GEAR UP projects may provide services to students, parents and…

The AVID Best Practices Study assessed the relative efficacy of 11 AVID program essentials; examined schoolwide effects of AVID; and identified necessary research-based changes in AVID program essentials or staff development. AVID is an elective program for students that provides rigorous academic focus and addresses essential aspects in college…

ConnectED 2000, a gathering of representatives of an array of precollege outreach programs, was the beginning of a national dialogue about such outreach programs. To continue and increase this dialogue it is necessary to find out more about precollege outreach programs. A step in this direction was taken through a national survey developed by The…

A very different world is evolving at a breathtaking pace. America's future is headed toward an information-based economy in which new jobs require some postsecondary education. The nation is depending on community colleges to be the linchpin to produce an essential, highly skilled workforce. However, America is not close to meeting that…

Many students of Mexican descent must learn how to be successful students. This study describes 5 students of Mexican descent from situationally marginalized lives who were a part of a support and retention scholarship program (College Assistance Migrant Program--CAMP). These case studies document how they perceived their learning and how they…

The sometimes poor performance of Career and Technical Education (CTE) concentrators on a state-mandated proficiency test is a major concern of CTE educators. This study examined whether (a) there are performance differences on state-mandated 11th-grade math and reading tests between CTE and non-CTE students with similar proficiency scores in the…

By examining data from interviews with students in the Upward Bound program (a federally sponsored program that provides academic support to students at risk who are preparing for college entrance), this study seeks to strengthen an understanding of the role of trust among urban youth at risk in the educational organizations that serve them. This…

This chapter examines recent attempts to promote students' transitions into postsecondary education. In particular, it focuses on the evolution of career and technical education (CTE) to promote student transition by coupling more rigorous academic preparation with CTE programs.

The purpose of this study was to examine the success of an alternate admission option for academically underprepared students. This study compared relevant enrollment, academic, and graduation data at various critical points in the academic careers of alternate admission option students with data from students who entered the college through…

GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) emerged in the late 1990s as a comprehensive outreach program seeking to enhance awareness of and readiness for college among low-income middle school students. After controlling for students' preprogram test scores and school characteristics, findings indicate that…

This research project focuses on a program that combines the traditional classroom approach with the capabilities of distance learning. The August Spring Program at Kutztown University admits a population of remedial students for the spring semester only after they successfully complete an intensive one-week preparation course in the preceding…

This report examines state-sponsored early intervention programs whose aims are to assist educationally and economically disadvantaged students to plan for postsecondary education. It highlighs common policy mechanisms and discusses practices that have become established over time. It highlights 17 programs in 12 states that are leaders in early…

Two studies examined the effects of using ACT's Educational Plainning and Assessment System (EPAS) and benefits of using the EXPLORE and PLAN programs for students and schools in terms of achievement gains, educational planning, and educational preparation at grades 10, 11, and 12. Two data sets were used. The first consisted of 156,928 students…

Presents data on university entrance of graduates from the International Baccalaureate (IB) program since its inception 25 years ago. Examines both foreign IB diploma holders and United States diploma holders entering universities in the United States. Concludes that there is high degree of persistence among IB students, with nearly all diploma…

Reports on the need for developmental education to prepare students for success in higher education. Looks at the performance of developmental students and their characteristics. Describes the role community and technical colleges play as providers of developmental education, characteristics of a successful developmental program, and ways to…