From the News You Can Use Archives 10/23/06

Helping Low-Income Students Enter and Succeed in College

A new report seeks to provide educators, parents and policymakers with an agenda for ensuring more low-income students will be able to enter college and succeed in graduating. The report calls for a more rigorous high school curriculum, greater peer and parental support and increased availability of financial aid information.

These are some of the conclusions of Reclaiming the American Dream — the Bridgespan Group, based on the Bridgespan Groups analysis of data from the National Educational Longitudinal Study.

Key Findings:

Preparing students academically is the most effective way to increase the odds that they will earn college degrees. A student who graduates high school having met even a lenient definition of preparedness has an 85 percent chance of entering college and a 50 percent chance of earning a degree. Students who do not have this level of preparedness have only a 14 percent chance of completing college. Information about college and the high school coursework required for admission to college is critical for students who want to earn a degree. Many low-income students expect to go to college, but they don't take courses in high school that would enable them to pursue that path. Peer culture is more influential than parental encouragement. The most important thing parents can do for students is to help them visit a college campus. This visit will help students perceive college as a more tangible goal. Many low-income students lack reliable information about affordability and the financial aid process. Half to three-quarters of low-income students don't apply for aid; they don't apply for loans; and/or they don't attend information sessions on postsecondary aid and its availability.

Of particular interest is the report's recommendation for making college affordable for low-income students:

Reform the Pell Grant program; the grants are the largest source of aid for low-income students.
Increase the size of grants
Alter the program to encourage college preparation (perhaps by making higher amounts available for students who have completed a college preparatory curriculum).
Consider other creative need-based aid programs such as loan forgiveness incentives for low-income students who complete their degrees.

According to Tom Vander Ark, executive director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's education program, “Improving graduation and college-readiness rates is an economic and social imperative. We need to work smarter in preparing all students to succeed in college and career.

‘Reclaiming the American Dream' clearly demonstrates which strategies have the greatest impact on ultimate success in college and represent the best investment of time and money.”

Reclaiming the American Dream — the Bridgespan Group

Story posted October 23, 2006.

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