Decision Information Resources, Inc.

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Design and evaluation of college access program

Highlights
  • Study of implementation and outcomes for one of eight TRIO programs – Upward Bound
  • Summarized research evidence, costs, and steps needed to scale up interventions identified by IES
  • Conducted supplemental analysis of extant data
  • Assessed availability and quality of extant state and national data sets for student outcomes of interest
  • Conducted site visits to a sample of UB grantees
  • Designed and conducted a project- level survey with 819 regular UB projects
Official Title
Study of Implementation and Outcomes of Upward Bound and Other TRIO Programs
Location(s)
Nationwide
Activities
Site visits
Focus groups
Web-based survey
Data analysis
Reporting
Dates
8/1/2011 - 8/2/2017
Client
U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
Project Description

The U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) National Center for Education Evaluation (NCEE) contracted with DIR and its partner, Abt Associates, to conduct a study of TRIO Implementation and Outcomes. TRIO programs identify and provide services for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The study focused on one of TRIO’s eight programs—Upward Bound (UB). DIR led the team to investigate what implementation strategies were commonly used by Upward Bound projects, what strategies improved students’ outcomes, and whether the association between implementation strategies and student outcomes differed for students and projects that had different characteristics.

To determine the variability in UB implementation strategies, the evaluation team performed on-site visits to a sample of 20 UB grantees and then followed up with a project-level survey with 819 UB projects. DIR developed and piloted interview protocols and focus-group discussion guides for site visits. We also developed a Web-based project director survey, which focused on project history and characteristics, services provided, and factors that informed decisions about offerings, variation in program services, and intensity. The final survey response rate was 94.5 percent.

DIR submitted the final report and presented a summary of the findings to the ED and the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE).

Services
Research and EvaluationSurveys and Data Collection
Areas of Expertise
Education

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