The Impacts of Upward Bound: Final Report for Phase I of the National Evaluation.

Upward Bound is a federal program designed to help disadvantaged students prepare to enter and succeed in college. Students typically enter the program in their freshman or sophomore year of high school and can remain in it through the summer following high school graduation. Upward Bound projects provide students with a variety of services, including instruction, tutoring, and counseling. This report presents findings from a national evaluation of Upward Bound that draws on a sample of 67 regular Upward Bound projects. About 1,500 students nationwide were in the study group, and about 1,300 other students formed a control group. Followup surveys of students and their academic records provided information about program effectiveness. Findings show that many students remain in Upward Bound only for a short time, and, in fact, the program has limited impact on students in high school, and no apparent impact on high school graduation. Upward Bound may have some impact on participants' postsecondary education experiences, but, since relatively few of the study group had reached college age, it is too soon to make definitive statements about program impact at the college level. Findings also show that Upward Bound has substantial impact on some groups of students, and not others. Positive effects were more evident for students who initially had low educational expectations and for students with poor performance as they entered the program. (SLD)