What is TRIO?
The Federal TRIO programs are federal outreach and student service programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds (www2.ed.gov). These programs are funded with grants from the Department of Education. TRIO consists of eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students (parents who have not received a bachelor's degree), and individuals with disabilities to progress from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs (www2.ed.gov).
These programs include:
These programs include:
- Educational Opportunity Centers
- Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement
- Student Support Services
- Talent Search
- Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs Staff
- Upward Bound
- Upward Bound Math-Science
- Veterans Upward Bound
trio's history
The Federal TRIO programs began with Upward Bound in 1964 in response to the administration's War on Poverty. Talent Search, the second outreach program, followed in 1965. In 1968, Student Support Services (originally known as Special Services for Disadvantaged Students) became the third addition to educational opportunity programs. By the late 1960's, the term "TRIO" was coined to describe these federal programs (www2.ed.gov). The TRIO programs continued to expand to reach more students needing assistance. Amendments to the Higher Education Amendments created the Educational Opportunities Centers (in 1972), the Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs (in 1976), and the Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program (in 1986). The Upward Bound Math-Science program was added in 1990 to address the need for specific instruction in the fields of math and science (www2.ed.gov).