Upward Bound is a U.S. Department of Education program that helps low-income high school students prepare for college acceptance and success. It also helps those from families where no parent has a college degree (the students would be the first in their families to go to college, "potential first generation.")
Last year, George Bush, the education president, proposed eliminating funding for Upward Bound. Thanks to strong support from around the country and enough support in both houses and parties, UB funding was restored for FY2006.
But now, the ax is back. Please help us maintain funding for Upward Bound in FY 2007 and beyond. (more on the flip)
For over thirty years, UB programs at colleges and universities around the country have provided thousands of students with tutoring, mentoring, course selection guidance, college skills development, career exploration, college visits, help with applications and more so they could go on to and be successful at college.
Low income students are far less likely to go to, stay in and graduate from college than their higher income peers. Much of this has to do with costs. Pell Grant funding is flat or declining and college tuitions are rising faster every year.
But often it depends on things like tracking, course selection, missed deadlines, ignorance about college application processes, low education and career expectations and lack of guidance and mentoring.
Upward Bound addresses those problems among low income and potential first-generation students and it works. The Council for Opportunity in Education notes that "Students in the Upward Bound program are four times more likely to earn an undergraduate degree than those students from similar backgrounds who did not participate in TRIO."
(TRIO is the name for a group of federal Department of Education assistance programs for low income, potential first generation, veterans, disabled and other students and adults.)
Upward Bound doesn't just affect students. It helps families, future teachers who serve as tutors and mentors, communities and businesses. It's a great program and it shouldn't go away. Here's a very small sample of lives changed by Upward Bound and other TRIO programs.
Last year when UB was on the block, the DailyKos community helped save it by sending letters and emails to senators and representatives.
Please consider contacting your elected officials again to indicate your support for Upward Bound. A sample letter is shown below, but personal stories - especially from Upward Bound students, graduates, tutors, families and others - are best.
Thanks.
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DRAFT SAMPLE LETTER
Senator XXXXX
XXXXXXX
Washington, DC XXXXX
Dear Senator__: (or Representative __)
I am writing because I strongly support TRIO programs. As you know, TRIO is one of the nation's most important educational initiatives designed to advance equal educational opportunity in America. For the second straight year (FY 2006 and FY 2007) President Bush has proposed elimination of two important TRIO programs, Upward Bound and Talent Search.
The elimination of these TRIO programs will deny thousands of students necessary support for enrolling in college and it will widen the gap between low-income, first-generation students and their peers. Nearly one-third of all low-income high school graduates who enrolled in college have been served by a TRIO program.
Last year, funding for TRIO programs was cut. These cuts will prevent future students from receiving important education assistance and hurt our current TRIO programs, including those in your district.
I strongly urge you to restore funding levels for the Talent Search and Upward Bound programs and to increase funding for all TRIO programs by $171.8 million to $1 billion while strengthening its pre-college components.
Education is a national security issue and critical for our economic growth and strength. There is a growing disparity in high school graduation rates between low and high income students, diminishing America's overall competitiveness. TRIO programs provide crucial help to retain and graduate these students.
Thank you for your continued support of the XXX TRIO programs in District XXXX. With your support, the TRIO community is certain we can once again defeat the proposal to eliminate these important programs and continue to serve students in XXXX.
Sincerely,
XXXXXXXXXX
XXXX Program
XXXXX, XXXXXXX