February 7, 2005
Washington, DC—On February 7, President Bush
released his budget, which calls for the elimination of funds for two important
TRIO programs, Talent Search and Upward Bound, that have helped over two million
disadvantaged students prepare for college since their inception in 1965. Not
providing funding for these important programs significantly decreases the
likelihood of college access, enrollment and graduation for many minority and
low-income students.
Supporting programs
that improve our nation’s schools is critical to the future success of our
students.
Upward Bound and Talent Search are two of the tools that have helped prevent
students from dropping out of high school and have prepared students for
college. These programs have proven their effectiveness and should not be
eliminated
Currently, Talent
Search and Upward Bound serve a total of about 455,000 middle and high school
students and veterans. These students would be left without these critical
services if the Talent Search and Upward Bound programs were cut.
Moreover, currently, 45 institutions receive grants to provide veterans, from
the Vietnam War to the war in Iraq, with counseling and financial aid services
for post-secondary education. Cutting the Veteran’s Upward Bound Program, will
impact more than 5,000 Veterans who put their lives on the line to protect this
country.
For the Hispanic Community, elimination of these
programs would be especially devastating. Hispanic students have
experienced the largest gains from participation in the TRIO programs in several
subjects such as Math and English. This is especially important in light of the
fact that only 10% of Hispanics complete a four-year degree. According to the
Council for Opportunity in Education, elimination of these programs would mean a
decrease in the possibility of a college education by 20% or higher.
Talent Search and Upward Bound
are especially needed as we prepare our workforce for the jobs of the 21st
Century. The college-access programs have a combined budget of $460 million,
which is a modest investment that in the last year, helped nearly a million
students realize their dreams of going to college. The elimination of these TRIO
programs will leave communities throughout the nation, but especially low-income
communities and communities of color, without the services that have helped
guide their students toward academic success and college enrollment.
For needy students these programs make a difference in that they prepare
students and Veterans for the pathway to higher education. We the undersigned,
feel that their continuation is vital to sustaining the academic preparedness of
the Hispanic community and are adamantly opposed to their elimination.
LULAC National Educational Service Centers (LNESC)
ASPIRA
American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
National Education Association (NEA)
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