UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Massell, Laura Nault
Dept./Program:
College of Education and Social Services
Year:
2010
Degree:
Ed. D.
Abstract:
This study examined the extent to which Gaining Early Academic Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) and Talent Search, two federal programs intended to promote college readiness and access to economically disadvantaged youth, fulfill their federal policy directive within Vennont. Specifically, this retrospective quantitative study 1) describes the postsecondary education trajectory ofparticipants in these college access programs across six years; 2) compares the postsecondary education outcomes of GEAR UP and Talent Search participants to similar students who did not participate in an early intervention college access program; and 3) tests the extent to which pre-college characteristics of GEAR UP and Talent Search participants are able to predict bachelor degree attainment.
The study sample included GEAR UP and Talent Search participants from the Vennont High School Class of2003, and two comparison groups of students who did not participate in either intervention. Postsecondary education enrollment data were collected for a period of six years beyond scheduled high school graduation. This study used descriptive statistics to portray the postsecondary educational pathways of GEAR UP and Talent Search participants. Postsecondary education outcomes of GEAR UP and Talent Search participants and the two comparison groups were tested for statistically significant differences using chi square analyses. Binary logistic regression was used to detennine the predictive strength of pre-college variables identified in the literature on students' completion of a bachelor's degree.
This case study is novel in several key aspects: 1) it examines the postsecondary outcome~ of all GEAR UP and Talent Search participants across an entire state, those that were affiliated with the program through high school graduation, as well as those students that left the program midcourse; 2) it applies a P51th code analysis to illuminate individual pathways within the entire cohort of students; 3) it extends the key outcome measure from first year enrollment in college, a necessary but insufficient milestone of college access and success, to degree completion; and 4) it offers a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities faced by college access programs that seek to use data to infonn decision making.
Findings from this research will be used to stimulate an infonned conversation about increasing postsecondary access and success of economically disadvantaged students in Vermont. Beyond Vermont, this research is part of a nascent effort by federally funded early intervention access programs to use data to benchmark and describe participant postsecondary educational outcomes. In a substantive way, these data also contribute new knowledge about the postsecondary educational enrollment patterns of low income rural youth, a segment of the population recently identified as at elevated risk for not continuing their education beyond high school. This population is of growing national concern as the traditional farming and manufacturing sectors of rural communities give way to infonnation-based economies.
The study sample included GEAR UP and Talent Search participants from the Vennont High School Class of2003, and two comparison groups of students who did not participate in either intervention. Postsecondary education enrollment data were collected for a period of six years beyond scheduled high school graduation. This study used descriptive statistics to portray the postsecondary educational pathways of GEAR UP and Talent Search participants. Postsecondary education outcomes of GEAR UP and Talent Search participants and the two comparison groups were tested for statistically significant differences using chi square analyses. Binary logistic regression was used to detennine the predictive strength of pre-college variables identified in the literature on students' completion of a bachelor's degree.
This case study is novel in several key aspects: 1) it examines the postsecondary outcome~ of all GEAR UP and Talent Search participants across an entire state, those that were affiliated with the program through high school graduation, as well as those students that left the program midcourse; 2) it applies a P51th code analysis to illuminate individual pathways within the entire cohort of students; 3) it extends the key outcome measure from first year enrollment in college, a necessary but insufficient milestone of college access and success, to degree completion; and 4) it offers a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities faced by college access programs that seek to use data to infonn decision making.
Findings from this research will be used to stimulate an infonned conversation about increasing postsecondary access and success of economically disadvantaged students in Vermont. Beyond Vermont, this research is part of a nascent effort by federally funded early intervention access programs to use data to benchmark and describe participant postsecondary educational outcomes. In a substantive way, these data also contribute new knowledge about the postsecondary educational enrollment patterns of low income rural youth, a segment of the population recently identified as at elevated risk for not continuing their education beyond high school. This population is of growing national concern as the traditional farming and manufacturing sectors of rural communities give way to infonnation-based economies.