A BluePrint for Success: Case Studies of Successful - Educational ...

Introduction
A Blueprint for Success
by DR. WATSON SCOTT SWAIL
President & CEO, Educational Policy Institute/Project Principal Investigator
In 1999, I was fortunate to direct the National Survey of Pre-College Outreach Programs for The
College Board. This project resulted in a handbook and several journal articles based on the findings
of our work. More than a decade later, I had the opportunity to discuss a retooling of the survey
with TG. The thought was that the decade break between the two should provide new and interesting
data for analysis. Through a competitive process, we were fortunate to receive funding from
TG’s Public Benefits Program to conduct a new study of pre-college outreach programs. The results
of this new study and the subsequent program directory can be found in the 2012 Handbook of Pre-
College Outreach Programs, available on the EPI website. 1
The TG-funded project included a very important second piece to be completed parallel to the survey
project and using information garnered from that instrument. This sub-project was to identify
eight programs that showed excellent student outcomes for students, as measured by their academic
improvement, high school completion, admission to college, and even their success and completion
in college. Starting with 374 programs from the national survey, we were able to filter down the programs
to a manageable 54. Because we were most interested in focusing on community-based programs,
we excluded federally-sponsored programs, like GEAR Up and TRIO. Other programs were
excluded that did not have student monitoring systems and/or data and programs that did not indicate
how they evaluated student outcomes. From this group of 54, we short-listed 15 and then conducted
a further screening process. In the end, we conducted 10 case studies for this project which
are presented in this publication.
This case study project is important for several reasons. While we were able to survey 374 programs,
we also know there are literally thousands of similar programs currently in existence in the United
States to help at-risk and other, less-prepared students prepare for and succeed in postsecondary education.
In speaking to groups and organizations about issues of college access, a main theme in conversation
is “Best Practices.” Best practices in recruitment, in academic support, in financial aid
counseling, in parental involvement, in college application completion, and more. People want to
know what works.
1 See www.educationalpolicy.org/publications.
Educational Policy Institute vi www.educationalpolicy.org