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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