Review of the Upward Bound Program

Highlights

GAO was requested to review the Department of Education's special programs for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. As part of that review, GAO evaluated the administration of the Upward Bound Program.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Department of Education	The Secretary of Education should consider project dropout rates, the changes in participants' academic skills levels, and participants' postsecondary success when awarding new Upward Bound grants.	Closed – Implemented Responsive action was in process at the last update. However, Education's follow-up staff was unable to locate any program personnel cognizant of actions which were taken in response to this report since the spring of 1984.
Department of Education	The Secretary of Education should require Upward Bound projects to measure the academic growth of participants and to report such growth to Education.	Closed – Implemented Responsive action was in process at the last update. However, Education's follow-up staff was unable to locate any program personnel cognizant of actions which were taken in response to this report since the spring of 1984.
Department of Education	The Secretary of Education should develop a system to obtain accurate data on participants' postsecondary success.	Closed – Implemented Responsive action was in process at the last update. However, Education's follow-up staff was unable to locate any program personnel cognizant of actions which were taken in response to this report since the spring of 1984.

Full Report

Full Report (44 pages)

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Topics

Education

Academic achievementDisadvantaged personsHigher educationSecondary school studentsStudentsAttrition ratesSchoolsHuman capital managementDisadvantaged studentsStatistical data