Upward Bound

Upward Bound Program History

Under authority of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.A.C., 2809), the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) funded 17 Upward Bound projects as pilot programs in the summer of 1965. In 1966, Upward Bound was authorized as a national program under Title II.A of the Economic Act. On July 1, 1969, the Upward Bound program was transferred from OEO to the U.S. Office of Education, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (H.E.W). On May 7, 1980, under the Carter administration, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was reorganized. The newly formed Department of Education combined more than 150 programs from five departments including TRIO Programs for Disadvantaged Students.

What Is TRIO?

In the early years, Trio Programs represented three programs, Upward Bound, Talent Search, and Student Support Services, but since has grown to represent more than eight federally funded educational opportunity programs. Trio programs are designed to help students overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education. They provide information, counseling, academic instruction, tutoring, assistance in applying for financial aid, encouragement and support. Trio programs help over 500,000 low-income and first-generation college students each year. There are over 1,677 Trio programs in operation nationwide (573 Upward Bound Bound programs) at more than 800 public and private colleges and universities, and at 80 community agencies.

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