> U.S. Department of
> Education![](media/image1.wmf){width="1.2694444444444444in"
> height="1.1020833333333333in"}
>
> An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program:
>
> 2002--03 and 2003--04, With\
> Select Data From 2000--02
>
> U.S. Department of Education
>
> An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers
> Program:![](media/image1.wmf){width="1.2805555555555554in"
> height="1.2805555555555554in"}
>
> 2002--03 and 2003--04, With\
> Select Data From 2000--02

Prepared for:

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Postsecondary Education

Federal TRIO Programs

By:

Margaret Marcus Hale

Tsze Chan

American Institutes for Research

2006

This report was prepared for the U.S. Department of Education under
Contract No. ED-01-CO-0026/0010 by the American Institutes for Research.
Kathy Fuller provided technical review of the content. Shirley Johnson
served as the contracting officer's representative. The views expressed
herein do not necessarily represent the positions or policies of the
Department of Education. No official endorsement by the U.S. Department
of Education of any product, commodity, service, or enterprise mentioned
in this publication is intended or should be inferred.

**U.S. Department of Education**\
Margaret Spellings\
*Secretary*

**Office of Postsecondary Education\
**James Manning\
*Acting Assistant Secretary*

**Federal TRIO Programs\
**Larry Oxendine\
*Director*

September 2006

This report is in the public domain. Authorization to reproduce it in
whole or in part is granted. While permission to reprint this
publication is not necessary, the citation should be: U.S. Department of
Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, *An Interim Report on the
Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002--03 and\
2003--04, With Select Data From 2000--02*, Washington, D.C., 2006.

To obtain copies of this report:

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This report is also available on the Department's Web site at:
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On request, this publication is available in alternate formats, such as
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contact the Department's Alternate Format Center at 202-260-0852 or
202-260-0818.

Contents

[Tables iv](#tables)

[Figures vi](#figures)

[Foreword vii](#foreword)

[Acknowledgments ix](#__RefHeading___Toc150234512)

[Introduction 1](#introduction)

[Section I: Educational Opportunity Centers Projects and Participants
3](#section-i-educational-opportunity-centers-projects-and-participants)

[Section II: Program Outcomes 13](#section-ii-program-outcomes)

[Appendix A: Supporting Tables 19](#appendix-a-supporting-tables)

[Glossary 27](#glossary)

# Tables

[1. Educational Opportunity Centers Program funding characteristics, by
reporting year: 2001--02 through 2003--04
5](#__RefHeading___Toc150234650)

[2. Number and percentage of Educational Opportunity Centers projects,
number and percentage of Annual Performance Reports submitted, and
number and percentage distribution of participants reported, by type of
host institution and reporting year: 2001--02 through 2003--04
6](#__RefHeading___Toc150234651)

[3. Number and percentage of Educational Opportunity Centers
participants with limited English proficiency, by type of host
institution: 2003--04 12](#__RefHeading___Toc150234652)

[4. Number and percentage of Educational Opportunity Centers
participants who were veterans, by type of host institution: 2003--04
12](#__RefHeading___Toc150234653)

[A-1. Number and percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity
Centers participants, by participant status and reporting year: 2001--02
through\
2003--04 19](#__RefHeading___Toc150234654)

[A-2. Number and percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity
Centers participants, by eligibility status: 2003--04
19](#__RefHeading___Toc150234655)

[A-3. Number and percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity
Centers participants, by gender: 2003--04
20](#__RefHeading___Toc150234656)

[A-4. Number and percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity
Centers participants, by race and ethnicity: 2003--04
20](#__RefHeading___Toc150234657)

[A-5. Number and percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity
Centers participants, by academic status or grade level: 2003--04
20](#__RefHeading___Toc150234658)

[A-6. Number and percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity
Centers participants, by age (years): 2003--04
21](#__RefHeading___Toc150234659)

[A-7. Number and percentage of achievement in postsecondary outcomes of
Educational Opportunity Centers college-ready participants, by reporting
year: 2000--01 through 2003--04 22](#__RefHeading___Toc150234660)

[A-8. Number and percentage of achievement in postsecondary persistence
of Educational Opportunity Centers postsecondary students, by reporting
year: 2002--03 and 2003--04 23](#__RefHeading___Toc150234661)

[A-9. Number and percentage distribution of postsecondary placements of
Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by type of EOC host
institution: 2003--04 24](#__RefHeading___Toc150234662)

[A-10. Number of Educational Opportunity Centers projects with reported
successes in meeting program outcome measures exceeding numbers of
eligible participants, by program outcome measure: 2003--04
25](#__RefHeading___Toc150234663)

# Figures

[1. Percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers
participants, by participant status and reporting year: 2001--02 through
2003--04 7](#__RefHeading___Toc150234774)

[2. Percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers
participants, by eligibility status: 2003--04
8](#__RefHeading___Toc150234775)

[3. Percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers
participants, by gender: 2003--04 9](#__RefHeading___Toc150234776)

[4. Percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers
participants, by race and ethnicity: 2003--04
9](#__RefHeading___Toc150234777)

[5. Percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers
participants, by academic status or grade level: 2003--04
10](#__RefHeading___Toc150234778)

[6. Percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers
participants, by age (years): 2003--04 11](#__RefHeading___Toc150234779)

[7. Percentage of achievement in postsecondary admission of
college-ready Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by reporting
year: 2000--01 through 2003--04 15](#__RefHeading___Toc150234780)

[8. Percentage of achievement in postsecondary reentry of Educational
Opportunity Centers postsecondary students, by reporting year: 2000--01
through 2003--04 16](#__RefHeading___Toc150234781)

[9. Percentage of achievement in postsecondary persistence of
Educational Opportunity Centers postsecondary students, by reporting
year: 2002--03 and 2003--04 17](#__RefHeading___Toc150234782)

[10. Percentage distribution of postsecondary placements of Educational
Opportunity Centers Program participants, by type of EOC host
institution: 2003--04 18](#__RefHeading___Toc150234783)

# Foreword

To ensure the success of the No Child Left Behind Act, high-quality
educational opportunities must be made available to all students. In
keeping with this goal, the Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC)
Program of the Federal TRIO Programs encourages adults from
disadvantaged backgrounds to enter or continue a postsecondary education
program.

We are pleased to present this document, *An Interim Report on the
Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002--03 and 2003--04, With
Select Data From 2000--02*, which describes selected aspects of the
program primarily for reporting years 2002--03 and 2003--04. Two
previously published comprehensive profiles of the EOC Program,
available from the U.S. Department of Education, present data on
reporting years 1998--2000. The next comprehensive EOC report is
expected to cover the entire 2002--06 grant cycle.

We are proud to continue our process of sharing national statistical
information on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program with staff,
grantees, members of Congress and the larger education community. It is
our hope that collecting and disseminating this information will foster
a dialogue among these groups that is aimed at furthering our mission
and implementing measures to see how well we are doing. We look forward
to continuing to work together to improve program services and increase
the number of disadvantaged adults who pursue postsecondary education.

Larry Oxendine\
Director\
Federal TRIO Programs\
U.S. Department of Education

# Acknowledgments

Publishing this report was a team effort, and we appreciate the support
of all who contributed. First, we thank the staff members of the
Educational Opportunity Centers projects who reported the data on which
this report is based. Frances Bergeron, team leader, Program Management
and Development, Federal TRIO Programs, coordinated the data collection
and reporting processes. Special thanks also to Kathy Fuller of the
Federal TRIO Programs for her valuable comments and edits on the
contents and figures presented in this report.

# Introduction

Created in 1972, the Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) Program, one
of eight TRIO Programs, funds EOC projects at two- and four-year
colleges and universities and public or private agencies or
organizations to assist adults from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter
or continue a postsecondary education program. Participants in EOC
projects generally must be 19 years old or older.[^1] In each funded
project, at least two-thirds of the participants must be both low-income
and potentially first-generation college students. An important
objective of the EOC Program is to counsel participants on applying for
admission to postsecondary institutions and for financial aid. Examples
of other services offered by EOC grantees include academic advising,
college orientation activities, tutoring and career workshops.

Each participating grantee is required to provide project information to
the EOC Program through its Annual Performance Report (APR), with
content stipulated by the program. The current report is based on the
APRs submitted by EOC projects for the 2002--03 and 2003--04 reporting
years, with select data from 2000--01 and 2001--02.

Fall 2002 (reporting year 2002--03) marked the beginning of a new,
four-year funding cycle\
(2002--06), with a total of 139 projects. All 82 projects funded in the
previous funding cycle (1998--2002) continued to receive funding in this
new cycle, and 57 projects were funded for the first time. All funded
projects submitted their APRs for reporting years 2002--03 and 2003--04.

National profile reports published in previous years have offered a
comprehensive analysis of EOC Program activities, participant
characteristics and program outcomes.[^2] This report provides essential
data on the first two years (2002--04) of the 2002--06 cycle, compares
select data from the preceding and current funding cycles and makes
available information on program outcome measures through 2004. The
program's next comprehensive report will cover the period through the
end of the 2002--06 funding cycle.

This report has two sections. Section I describes select characteristics
of the program's projects and participants for reporting years 2002--03
and 2003--04. Data from earlier years are also presented for
characteristics that either are of key interest to the EOC Program or
have shown changes over time. Section II presents four years of program
outcomes, starting with reporting year 2000--01, to demonstrate program
achievement across two funding cycles. In each section, major findings
are presented as highlights followed by tables and figures. Appendix A
presents the actual numbers from which the percentages were derived. The
glossary defines the terms used in this report.

# Section I    Educational Opportunity Centers Projects and Participants

This section presents select characteristics of the EOC Program projects
and the students served during reporting years 2002--03 and 2003--04,
with some comparative data from one or two previous years (2000--2002).
Where the data did not vary significantly from year to year, the
highlights below refer to only the most recent year, 2003--04.

-   In 2001--02, the final year of the previous 1998--2002 funding
    cycle, a total of 82 projects were funded. In the new 2002--2006
    funding cycle, the number of projects funded increased to 139. Total
    annual funding increased from \$33,234,295 in 2001--02 to
    \$48,011,331 in 2002--03 and to \$48,542,202 in 2003--04 (table 1).

-   The number of participants that EOC projects were funded to serve
    also rose from 160,836 in 2001--02 to 217,836 in 2002--03, falling
    slightly to 217,265 in 2003--04 (table 1). The average amount per
    participant rose from \$207 in 2001--02 to \$220 in 2002--03 and to
    \$223 in 2003--04 (table 1).

-   The number of participants actually served by EOC projects increased
    from 165,657 in\
    2001--02 to 214,684 in 2002--03, a number slightly less than the
    number of participants the projects were funded to serve in those
    same reporting years. As the new EOC projects gained experience in
    providing EOC Program services, the number of participants served
    increased to 229,596 in 2003--04, or about 12,000 more participants
    than these projects were funded to serve that reporting year (table
    2).

-   The average number of participants that EOC projects were funded to
    serve and actually served decreased between the previous and current
    cycles (from 1,961 in 2001--02 to 1,567 in 2002--03, and from 2,071
    in 2001--02 to 1,544 in 2002--03 \[tables 1 and 2\]). The reason for
    the decrease is that, during the 1998--2002 funding cycle, a number
    of projects were funded to serve far more than 1,000 participants;
    by contrast, during the new 2002--06 funding cycle, all 57 new
    projects were funded to serve no more than 1,000 students.

-   The gain in the number of participants served between the first two
    years (2002--03 and 2003--04) of the current funding cycle
    (2002--06) varied by type of host institution (table 2). Two-year
    institutions showed the largest gain in the number of participants
    served between the two reporting years, from 59,133 in 2002--03 and
    to 69,134 in 2003--04. Community organizations showed a slight
    decrease in the number of participants served, from 71,260 in
    2002--03 to 68,559 in 2003--04. Of all participants served by the
    EOC Program, the percentage of those served by community
    organizations dropped from 33 percent in 2002--03 to 30 percent in
    2003--04, whereas the percentage of participants served by two-year
    institutions increased by about the same magnitude over these two
    years, from 28 percent to 30 percent (table 2).

-   The percentage of projects hosted by different types of institutions
    shifted between the previous (1998--2002) and current (2002--06)
    funding cycles. The percentage hosted by four‑year institutions
    dropped slightly, from 49 percent in 2001--02 to 46 percent in
    2002--03 and 2003--04, while the percentage hosted by two-year
    institutions increased significantly, from 28 percent to 36 percent.
    The percentage of projects hosted by community organizations
    decreased from 23 percent to 18 percent (table 2).

-   New participants represented 83 percent of those served by EOC
    Program projects in\
    2002--03 and nearly 77 percent in 2003--04 (fig.1). The proportion
    of new participants did not vary much between the 2001--02 and
    2002--2003 levels (82 and 83 percent, respectively) despite the
    addition of 57 new projects in 2002--03 because participants
    typically remained in the program no more than a year, regardless of
    whether or not the project received funding under an earlier funding
    cycle.

-   In 2003--04, approximately 75 percent of participants were
    low-income and potentially first‑generation (fig. 2). Almost 12
    percent were potentially first-generation only, and just over
    9 percent were low-income only (fig. 2).

-   In 2003--04, about 36 percent of participants were male and almost
    64 percent were female (fig. 3).

-   Approximately 60 percent of EOC participants were racial or ethnic
    minorities. In 2003--04, about 36 percent of participants were
    African-American and 16 percent were Hispanic or Latino (fig. 4).
    Participants who were American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or
    Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and individuals who
    categorized themselves as of more than one race, constituted about 4
    percent or less each (fig. 4).

-   In 2003--04, almost 39 percent of the participants had a high school
    diploma or alternative certification (fig. 5). Another 18 percent
    were postsecondary students, 16 percent were adults without high
    school credentials, and 13 percent were postsecondary dropouts.
    Twelve percent were high school students or secondary school
    dropouts (fig. 5).

-   In 2003--04, over 44 percent of EOC participants were age 28 and
    older (fig. 6). Individuals between 19 and 27 years of age made up
    over 39 percent of the participants, while individuals between 14
    and 18 years of age constituted almost 16 percent (fig. 6).

-   In 2003--04, between 5 and 6 percent of participants served by all
    types of EOC host institutions had limited English proficiency
    (table 3).

-   Less than 3 percent of EOC participants were veterans (table 4).

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234650 .anchor}Table 1. Educational Opportunity
Centers Program funding characteristics, by reporting year:\
2001--02 through 2003--04

  ------------------------------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
                                        Reporting year                

                                        2001--02       2002--03 ^a^   2003--04

  **Funding characteristics**                                         

  Number of projects funded             82             139            139

  Number of participants projects were  160,836        217,836        217,265
  funded to serve ^b^                                                 

  Average project award                 \$405,296      \$345,405      \$349,224

  Amount per participant projects were  \$207          \$220          \$223
  funded to serve                                                     

  Average number of students projects   1,961          1,567          1,563
  were funded to serve                                                

  Total funding                         \$33,234,295   \$48,011,331   \$48,542,202
  ------------------------------------- -------------- -------------- --------------

SOURCE: Data for *total funding* and *number of participants projects
were funded to serve* are from the program files of the U.S. Department
of Education, Federal TRIO Programs. Other data are based on the U.S.
Department of Education, Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity
Centers Annual Performance Reports, 2001--02,\
2002--03 and 2003--04.

^a^ The EOC Program began a new, four-year funding cycle in 2002--03.

^b^ *Number* *of participants projects were funded to serve* is
aggregated from each project's number of participants funded to serve.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234651 .anchor}Table 2. Number and percentage
of Educational Opportunity Centers projects, number and percentage of
Annual Performance Reports submitted, and number and percentage
distribution of participants reported, by type of host institution and
reporting year: 2001--02 through 2003--04

  ------------------ ---------- ---------- ------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- --------------
                     Number of\ Percent of Number of    Percent of  Number of      Percent of all Average number
                     projects   all        projects     projects    participants   participants   of
                                projects   that         that        reported       reported       participants
                                           submitted\   submitted                                 reported
                                           APRs         APRs                                      

  **Type of host                                                                                  
  institution**                                                                                   

  2001--02                                                                                        

  Four-year ^a^      40         48.8       40           100.0       62,392         37.7           1,560

  Two-year ^a^       23         28.0       22           95.7        41,447         25.0           1,884

  Community          19         23.2       18           94.7        61,818         37.3           3,434
  organizations^b^                                                                                

  All projects       82         100.0      80           97.6        165,657        100.0          2,071

  2002--03 ^c^                                                                                    

  Four-year ^a^      64         46.0       64           100.0       84,291         39.3           1,317

  Two-year ^a^       50         36.0       50           100.0       59,133         27.5           1,183

  Community          25         18.0       25           100.0       71,260         33.2           2,850
  organizations ^b^                                                                               

  All projects       139        100.0      139          100.0       214,684        100.0          1,544

  2003--04                                                                                        

  Four-year ^a^      64         46.0       64           100.0       91,903         40.0           1,436

  Two-year ^a^       50         36.0       50           100.0       69,134         30.1           1,383

  Community          25         18.0       25           100.0       68,559         29.9           2,742
  organizations ^b^                                                                               

  All projects       139        100.0      139          100.0       229,596        100.0          1,652
  ------------------ ---------- ---------- ------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- --------------

SOURCE: Data from the program files of the U.S. Department of Education,
Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity Centers Annual
Performance Reports, 2001--02, 2002--03 and 2003--04.

*Note:* Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

^a^ *Four*-*yea*r and *two-year* include public and private
institutions.

^b^ *Community* *organizations* include public or private agencies and
organizations. 

^c^ The EOC Program began a new, four-year funding cycle in 2002--03.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234774 .anchor}Figure 1. Percentage
distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by
participant status and reporting year: 2001--02 through 2003--04

SOURCE: Data from the program files of the U.S. Department of Education,
Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity Centers Annual
Performance Reports, 2001--02, 2002--03 and 2003--04.

*Note:* Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

\* The EOC Program began a new, four-year funding cycle in 2002--03.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234775 .anchor}Figure 2. Percentage
distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by
eligibility status: 2003--04

![](media/image3.wmf)

SOURCE: Data from the program files of the U.S. Department of Education,
Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity Centers Annual
Performance Reports, 2003--04.

*Note:* Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234776 .anchor}Figure 3. Percentage
distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by gender:
2003--04

![](media/image4.wmf)

SOURCE: Data from the program files of the U.S. Department of Education,
Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity Centers Annual
Performance Reports, 2003--04.

*Note:* Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234777 .anchor}Figure 4. Percentage
distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by race
and ethnicity: 2003--04

![](media/image5.wmf)

SOURCE: Data from the program files of the U.S. Department of Education,
Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity Centers Annual
Performance Reports, 2003--04.

*Note:* Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234778 .anchor}Figure 5. Percentage
distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by
academic status or grade level: 2003--04

![](media/image6.wmf)

SOURCE: Data from the program files of the U.S. Department of Education,
Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity Centers Annual
Performance Reports, 2003--04.

*Note:* Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234779 .anchor}Figure 6. Percentage
distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by age
(years): 2003--04

![](media/image7.wmf)

SOURCE: Data from the program files of the U.S. Department of Education,
Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity Centers Annual
Performance Reports, 2003--04.

*Note:* Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234652 .anchor}Table 3. Number and percentage
of Educational Opportunity Centers participants\
with limited English proficiency, by type of host institution: 2003--04

  ------------------------ --------------------- --- ---------------------
                           Participants with         
                           limited English           
                           proficiency               

                           Number of                 Percent of all
                           participants with         participants reported
                           limited English           
                           proficiency               

  **Type of host                                     
  institution**                                      

  Four-year ^a^            5,463                     5.9

  Two-year ^a^             3,349                     4.8

  Community organizations  3,854                     5.6
  ^b^                                                

  All projects             12,666                    5.5
  ------------------------ --------------------- --- ---------------------

SOURCE: Data from the program files of the U.S. Department of Education,
Federal TRIO Programs,\
Educational Opportunity Centers Annual Performance Reports, 2003--04.

^a^ *Four-year* and *two-year* include public and private institutions.

^b^ *Community organizations* include public or private agencies and
organizations. 

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234653 .anchor}Table 4. Number and percentage
of Educational Opportunity Centers participants who were veterans, by
type of host institution: 2003--04

  ----------------------- ----------------------- ------------------------
                          Participant veterans    

                          Number of veterans      Percent of all
                                                  participants reported

  Type of host                                    
  institution                                     

  Four-year ^a^           2,837                   3.1

  Two-year ^a^            1,937                   2.8

  Community organizations 1,914                   2.8
  ^b^                                             

  All projects            6,688                   2.9
  ----------------------- ----------------------- ------------------------

SOURCE: Data from the program files of the U.S. Department of Education,
Federal TRIO Programs,\
Educational Opportunity Centers Annual Performance Reports, 2003--04.

^a^ *Four-year* and *two-year* include public and private institutions.

^b^ *Community organizations* include public or private agencies and
organizations. 

# Section II    Program Outcomes

As briefly mentioned in the introduction, the EOC Program funds EOC
projects at two- and four‑year colleges and universities and public or
private agencies or organizations to assist adults from disadvantaged
backgrounds to enter or continue a postsecondary education program. EOC
projects may also serve high school students in areas where projects
from the Talent Search (TS) Program---another one of the Federal TRIO
Programs aimed at providing counseling and services to students to
complete secondary education and enter postsecondary education---are not
available. Secondary school students are served through target schools
designated by either TS or EOC projects to receive program services.
Because EOC projects may serve target schools only if the eligible
students cannot be appropriately served by a Talent Search project, only
a small proportion of the target schools were served by EOC projects. In
2003--04, of the combined total of 510 grantees that reported serving
7,710 target schools, 40 projects were from the EOC Program serving 520
target schools. A more thorough discussion of target schools is
presented in a similar report for the TS Program.

For the period 2002--04, the EOC Program identified the following
academic milestones as program outcomes for EOC projects:[^3]

Postsecondary admission and financial aid assistance;

Postsecondary admission, reentry and persistence; and

Postsecondary placements.

During the EOC grant application process, potential grantees were asked
to state in their proposals their target rates of success for each of
these identified outcomes. In their APRs, each project reported the
number of participants who had attained one or more milestones in the
reporting year.

Because data reported vary across projects, program outcomes presented
in this section are based on projects that: 1) had identified a target
rate to be achieved in a particular objective; 2) had recruited the
appropriate participants to receive project services; and 3) had
participants attaining the identified objective. It should be noted that
many projects reported assisting more students in applying for
postsecondary admission and financial aid than the total number of
students served. For example, among the 138 grantees who had identified
a target rate to be achieved in assisting individuals in applying for
postsecondary admission, 32 of them reported serving a total of 29,291
eligible participants but also reported successfully assisting 35,774
individuals. Similarly, 16 grantees reported serving a total of 19,142
eligible participants but also reported successfully assisting 21,971
individuals in applying for financial aid (see table A-10 in Appendix
A). Given this problem in the data, the rest of this report focuses on
presenting the EOC Program's more interpretable outcomes of
postsecondary admission, reentry, persistence and postsecondary
placement.

-   In the first two years (2002--03 and 2003--04) of the 2002--06
    funding cycle, between 56 and 57 percent of participants considered
    college-ready (see glossary) actually enrolled in a postsecondary
    institution by the end of each reporting year. By way of comparison,
    in 2001--02, the final year of the 1998--2002 funding cycle, the
    figure was 66 percent (fig. 7). The relatively lower achievement in
    postsecondary admission in 2002--03 and 2003--04 may reflect the
    start-up time needed by new EOC projects for conducting program
    activities relating to this objective. Comparable figures for the
    first two years (1998--99 and 1999--2000) of the 1998--2002 funding
    cycle were 51 percent and 56 percent, respectively.

-   For the objective of postsecondary reentry, the percentage also
    showed a slight drop, from 60 percent in 2001--02 to 59 percent in
    2002--03 to 57 percent in 2003--04 (fig. 8). Part of the decrease
    may reflect a change in the 2002--06 funding cycle's APR format,
    which asks EOC projects to include transfer students in reporting
    reentry information.

-   The 2002--06 funding cycle also adds postsecondary persistence to
    APRs. As figure 9 shows, between 82 and 88 percent of the
    postsecondary participants either continued in or completed a
    program of study in the two reporting years (2002--03 and 2003--04).

-   A majority of those who entered a postsecondary institution in
    2003--04 enrolled in two-year institutions (62 percent), while
    another 24 percent entered four-year institutions (fig. 10). The
    percentages vary by the type of host institution in which the
    student participated in the EOC Program. Over 82 percent of
    participants served by EOC projects at two-year institutions entered
    a program of study in two-year institutions, while about 9 percent
    entered four-year institutions (fig. 10). By way of comparison,
    nearly 32 percent of participants served by EOC projects at
    four-year institutions entered a program of study in four-year
    institutions. For participants served by EOC projects at community
    organizations, approximately 58 percent entered two-year
    institutions, and approximately 31 percent entered four-year
    institutions (fig. 10).

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234780 .anchor}Figure 7. Percentage of
achievement in postsecondary admission of college-ready Educational
Opportunity Centers participants, by reporting year: 2000--01 through
2003--04

![](media/image8.wmf)

SOURCE: Data from the program files of the U.S. Department of Education,
Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity Centers Annual
Performance Reports, 2000--01, 2001--02, 2002--03 and 2003--04.

*Note*: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding. The percentages
of achievement were calculated on the basis of the projects that had
identified a target rate to be achieved, recruited the appropriate
participants to serve and reported having participants attaining the
identified objective. The percentage of *postsecondary admission* was
derived by dividing the number of participants enrolled in or admitted
to a program of postsecondary education (first‑time enrollment in
postsecondary education) by the number of college-ready participants.
*College-ready participants* are defined as 12th-grade high school
students and high school (and high school equivalency) graduates.

\* The EOC Program began a new, four-year funding cycle in 2002--03.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234781 .anchor}Figure 8. Percentage of
achievement in postsecondary reentry of Educational Opportunity Centers
postsecondary students, by reporting year: 2000--01 through 2003--04

![](media/image9.wmf)

SOURCE: Data from the program files of the U.S. Department of Education,
Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity Centers Annual
Performance Reports, 2000--01, 2001--02, 2002--03 and 2003--04.

*Note:* The percentages of achievement were calculated on the basis of
the projects that had identified a target rate to be achieved, recruited
the appropriate participants to serve and reported having participants
attaining the identified objective.

\* For reporting years 2000--01 and 2001--02, the percentage of
*postsecondary reentry* was derived by dividing the number of
participants reenrolled in or readmitted to a program of postsecondary
education (excluding transfer participants) by the number of
postsecondary dropouts.

\*\* For reporting years 2002--03 and 2003--04, the percentage of
*postsecondary reentry* was derived by dividing the number of
participants reenrolled in or readmitted to a program of postsecondary
education (including transfer participants) by the number of
postsecondary dropouts and postsecondary transfers.

\*\*\* The EOC Program began a new four-year funding cycle in 2002--03.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234782 .anchor}Figure 9. Percentage of
achievement in postsecondary persistence of Educational Opportunity
Centers postsecondary students, by reporting year: 2002--03 and 2003--04

![](media/image10.wmf)

SOURCE: Data from the program files of the U.S. Department of Education,
Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity Centers Annual
Performance Reports, 2002--03 and 2003--04.

*Note: Postsecondary persistence* refers to participants who were in
programs of postsecondary education at the beginning of the reporting
period and who continued in or completed a program of postsecondary
education during the same period. The percentages of achievement were
calculated on the basis of the projects that had identified a target
rate to be achieved, recruited the appropriate participants to serve and
reported having participants attaining the identified objective. The
percentage of *postsecondary persistence* was derived by dividing the
number of participants who completed or continued in a program of
postsecondary education by the number of postsecondary students served.
The decline in persistence between 2002--03 and 2003--04 should be
interpreted with caution, as the percentage was based on only 52
projects for 2002--03 and 68 projects for 2003--04. Data on
*postsecondary persistence* were not required in the Annual Performance
Reports prior to 2002--03.

\* The EOC Program began a new, four-year funding cycle in 2002--03.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234783 .anchor}Figure 10. Percentage
distribution of postsecondary placements of Educational Opportunity
Centers Program participants, by type of EOC host institution: 2003--04

![](media/image11.wmf)

SOURCE: Data from the program files of the U.S. Department of Education,
Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity Centers Annual
Performance Reports, 2003--04.

*Note:* Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

\**Four-year* and *two-year* include public and private institutions.

\*\* *Community organizations* include public or private agencies and
organizations.

\*\*\* *Other* includes public or nonprofit vocational or technical
schools, proprietary schools and unknown schools.

# Appendix A    Supporting Tables

This appendix shows the data from which the tables and figures in the
sections I and II are derived, and enables readers to better understand
the metrics used in this report.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234654 .anchor}Table A-1. Number and percentage
distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by
participant status and reporting year: 2001--02 through 2003--04

  --------- ------------- ------------ --------- ---------- --------- ------------ --------- --------- ---------- ------------ ---------
            Reporting                                                                                                          
            year                                                                                                               

            2001--02                             2002--03                                              2003--04                
                                                 ^a^                                                                           

            Participant                                                                                                        
            status                                                                                                             

            New           Continuing   Total                New       Continuing   Total     New                  Continuing   Total

  Number    134,972       30,685       165,657              177,907   36,777       214,684   175,665              53,931       229,596

  Percent   81.5          18.5         100.0                82.9      17.1         100.0     76.5                 23.5         100.0
  --------- ------------- ------------ --------- ---------- --------- ------------ --------- --------- ---------- ------------ ---------

SOURCE: Data from the program files of the U.S. Department of Education,
Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity Centers Annual
Performance Reports, 2001--02, 2002--03 and 2003--04.

*Note:* Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

^a^ The EOC Program began a new, four-year funding cycle in 2002--03.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234655 .anchor}Table A-2. Number and percentage
distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by
eligibility status: 2003--04

  ---------- ------------- ------------ ------------------ ------------ ------------
             Eligibility                                                
             status                                                     

             Low-income\   Low-income   Potentially        Other        Total
             and           only         first-generation                
             potentially                only                            
             first-                                                     
             generation                                                 

  Number     172,501       21,190       26,791             9,114        229,596

  Percent    75.1          9.2          11.7               4.0          100.0
  ---------- ------------- ------------ ------------------ ------------ ------------

SOURCE: Data from the program files of the U.S. Department of Education,
Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity Centers Annual
Performance Reports, 2003--04.

*Note:* Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234656 .anchor}Table A-3. Number and percentage
distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by gender:
2003--04

  -------------- ----------------- ----------------- --------------------
                 Gender                              

                 Female            Male              Total

  Number         146,472           83,124            229,596

  Percent        63.8              36.2              100.0
  -------------- ----------------- ----------------- --------------------

SOURCE: Data from the program files of the U.S. Department of Education,
Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity Centers Annual
Performance Reports, 2003--04.

*Note:* Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234657 .anchor}Table A-4. Number and percentage
distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by race
and ethnicity: 2003--04

  --------- ----------- ------- ------------------ ---------- -------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------
            Race and                                                                                   
            ethnicity                                                                                  

            American    Asian   African-American   Hispanic   White    Native     More than  Unknown   Total
            Indian or                              or Latino           Hawaiian   one race             
            Alaska                                                     or Other   reported             
            Native                                                     Pacific                         
                                                                       Islander                        

  Number    8,896       3,121   83,150             37,238     88,974   1,078      4,703      2,436     229,596

  Percent   3.9         1.4     36.2               16.2       38.8     0.5        2.0        1.1       100.0
  --------- ----------- ------- ------------------ ---------- -------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------

SOURCE: Data from the program files of the U.S. Department of Education,
Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity Centers Annual
Performance Reports, 2003--04.

*Note:* Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234658 .anchor}Table A-5. Number and percentage
distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by
academic status or grade level: 2003--04

  --------- ---------- ---------- ------------ ----------- ------------ ----------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------
            Academic                                                                                                                   
            status or                                                                                                                  
            grade                                                                                                                      
            level                                                                                                                      

            6th-9th    9th-11th   12th-grade   Secondary   Adult        High school Post-secondary   Post-secondary   Post-secondary   Total
            grade      grade      only         school      without\     graduate\   dropout          student          transfer         
                                               dropout     high school  or GED                                                         
                                                           credential                                                                  

  Number    316        4,023      19,229       3,598       37,726       89,385      30,505           40,286           4,528            229,596

  Percent   0.1        1.8        8.4          1.6         16.4         38.9        13.3             17.5             2.0              100.0
  --------- ---------- ---------- ------------ ----------- ------------ ----------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------

SOURCE: Data from the program files of the U.S. Department of Education,
Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity Centers Annual
Performance Reports, 2003--04.

*Note:* Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234659 .anchor}Table A-6. Number and percentage
distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by age
(years): 2003--04

  ------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
                Age                                               
                (years)                                           

                11--13    14--18    19--27    28 and    Unknown   Total
                                              above               

  Number        208       36,010    90,204    102,127   1,047     229,596

  Percent       0.1       15.7      39.3      44.5      0.5       100.0
  ------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

SOURCE: Data from the program files of the U.S. Department of Education,
Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity Centers Annual
Performance Reports, 2003--04.

*Note:* Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234660 .anchor}Table A-7. Number and percentage
of achievement in postsecondary outcomes of Educational Opportunity
Centers college-ready participants, by reporting year: 2000--01 through
2003--04

  --------------------------------------------------- --------------- ----------
                                                      Postsecondary   
                                                      outcomes        

                                                      Admission ^a^   Reentry

  2000--01 ^b^                                                        

  Number of EOC projects providing complete data      78              66

  Number of college-ready participants reported to    51,454          11,891
  have attained the identified objectives                             

  Number of appropriate college-ready participants    77,765          18,258
  served                                                              

  Percent participants in relevant projects who met   66.2            65.1
  objective                                                           

  2001--02 ^b^                                                        

  Number of EOC projects providing complete data      74              63

  Number of college-ready participants reported to    49,789          10,824
  have attained the identified objectives                             

  Number of appropriate college-ready participants    75,254          18,045
  served                                                              

  Percent participants in relevant projects who met   66.2            60.0
  objective                                                           

  2002--03 ^c^                                                        

  Number of EOC projects providing complete data      133             106

  Number of college-ready participants reported to    56,267          14,929
  have attained the identified objectives                             

  Number of appropriate college-ready participants    100,070         25,226
  served                                                              

  Percent participants in relevant projects who met   56.2            59.2
  objective                                                           

  2003--04 ^c^                                                        

  Number of EOC projects providing complete data      133             108

  Number of college-ready participants reported to    59,563          15,020
  have attained the identified objectives                             

  Number of appropriate college-ready participants    103,823         26,327
  served                                                              

  Percent participants in relevant projects who met   57.4            57.1
  objective                                                           
  --------------------------------------------------- --------------- ----------

SOURCE: Data from the program files of the U.S. Department of Education,
Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity Centers Annual
Performance Reports, 2000--01, 2001--02, 2002--03 and 2003--04.

*Note:* Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding. *College-ready
participants* are defined as 12th-grade high school students and high
school (and high school equivalency) graduates. Percentages for each
outcome measure were calculated on the basis of the projects that had
identified a target rate to be achieved, recruited the appropriate
participants to serve and reported having participants attaining the
identified objectives.

^a^ The percentage of *postsecondary* *admission* was derived by
dividing the number of participants enrolled in or admitted to a program
of postsecondary education (first-time enrollment in postsecondary
education) by the number of college-ready participants.

^b^ For reporting years 2000--01 and 2001--02, the percentage of
*postsecondary reentry* was derived by dividing the number of
participants reenrolled in or readmitted to a program of postsecondary
education (excluding transfer participants) by the number of
postsecondary dropouts.

^c^ For reporting years 2002--03 and 2003--04, the percentage of
*postsecondary* *reentry* was derived by dividing the number of
participants reenrolled in or readmitted to a program of postsecondary
education (including transfer participants) by the number of
postsecondary dropouts and postsecondary transfers.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234661 .anchor}Table A-8. Number and percentage
of achievement in postsecondary persistence of Educational Opportunity
Centers postsecondary students, by reporting year: 2002--03 and 2003--04

  --------------------------------------------------- -------------------
                                                      Postsecondary
                                                      persistence ^a^

  2002--03 ^b^                                        

  Number of EOC projects providing complete data      52

  Number of EOC participants reported to have         18,203
  attained the identified objectives                  

  Number of appropriate participants served           20,610

  Percent participants in relevant projects who met   88.3
  objective                                           

  2003--04 ^c^                                        

  Number of EOC projects providing complete data      68

  Number of EOC participants reported to have         20,110
  attained the identified objectives                  

  Number of appropriate participants served           24,529

  Percent participants in relevant projects who met   82.0
  objective                                           
  --------------------------------------------------- -------------------

SOURCE: Data from the program files of the U.S. Department of Education,
Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity Centers Annual
Performance Reports, 2002--03 and 2003--04.

*Note:* Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

^a^ *Postsecondary persistence* refers to participants who were in
programs of postsecondary education at the beginning of the reporting
period and who continued in or completed a program of postsecondary
education during the same period. Data on *postsecondary persistence*
were not required in the Annual Performance Reports prior to 2002--03.
The percentages for this outcome measure were calculated on the basis of
the projects that had identified a target rate to be achieved, recruited
the appropriate participants to serve, and reported having participants
attaining the identified objective. The percentage of *postsecondary
persistence* was derived by dividing the number of participants who have
completed or continued in a program of postsecondary education by the
number of postsecondary students served.

^b^ The EOC Program began a new four-year funding cycle in 2002--03.

^c^ The decline in persistence between 2002--03 and 2003--04 should be
interpreted with caution, as the percentage was only based on 52
projects for 2002--03 and 68 projects for 2003--04.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234662 .anchor}Table A-9. Number and percentage
distribution of postsecondary placements of Educational Opportunity
Centers participants, by type of EOC host institution: 2003--04

  --------------------- --------------- ------------ ----------- ----------
                        Postsecondary                            
                        placements                               

                        Four-year ^a^   Two-year ^a^ Other ^b^   Total

  **EOC host                                                     
  institutions**                                                 

                        Number                                   

  Four-year             12,410          18,592       8,238       39,240

  Two-year              3,074           28,812       3,127       35,013

  Community             11,360          21,706       4,095       37,161
  organizations^c^                                               

  All projects          26,844          69,110       15,460      111,414

                        Percent                                  

  Four-year             31.6            47.4         21.0        100.0

  Two-year              8.8             82.3         8.9         100.0

  Community             30.6            58.4         11.0        100.0
  organizations^c^                                               

  All projects          24.1            62.0         13.9        100.0
  --------------------- --------------- ------------ ----------- ----------

SOURCE: Data are from the program files of the U.S. Department of
Education, Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity Centers Annual
Performance Reports, 2003--04.

^a^ *F*our-*year* and *two-year* include public and private
institutions.

^b^ *Other* includes public or nonprofit vocational or technical
schools, proprietary schools and unknown schools.

^c^ *Community organizations* include public or private agencies and
organizations.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc150234663 .anchor}Table A-10. Number of
Educational Opportunity Centers projects with reported successes in
meeting program outcome measures exceeding numbers of eligible
participants, by program outcome measure: 2003--04

  ------------------------- ----------- ------------ ---------------------
                            Number of   Number of    Number of eligible
                            EOC         reported     participants reported
                            projects    successes    
                            ^a^                      

  **Program outcome                                  
  measure**                                          

  Postsecondary admission   32          35,774       29,291
  assistance ^b^                                     

  Postsecondary financial   16          21,971       19,142
  aid assistance ^c^                                 

  Postsecondary admission   10          7,239        5,449
  ^d^                                                

  Postsecondary reentry ^e^ 7           1,360        456

  Postsecondary persistence 8           1,495        735
  ^f^                                                
  ------------------------- ----------- ------------ ---------------------

SOURCE: Data are from the program files of the U.S. Department of
Education, Federal TRIO Programs, Educational Opportunity Centers Annual
Performance Reports, 2003--04.

*Note:* Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

^a^ The number of EOC projects includes those that had identified a
target rate to be achieved, recruited the appropriate participants to
serve and reported having participants attaining the identified
objectives.

^b^ Eligible participants for *postsecondary admission assistance* were
12th-grade students, high school (and high school equivalency) graduates
and postsecondary dropouts.

^c^ For *postsecondary financial aid assistance*, eligible participants
were 12th-grade students and high school (and high school equivalency)
graduates and postsecondary students.

^d^ For *postsecondary admission*, eligible participants were 12th-grade
students and high school (and high school equivalency) graduates.

^e^ For *postsecondary reentry*, eligible participants were
postsecondary dropouts and transfers.

^f^ For *postsecondary persistence*, eligible participants were
postsecondary students.

# Glossary

This glossary lists terms used in the report. Some of them are specific
to the TRIO Program and do not necessarily apply to other U.S.
Department of Education programs or grants.

**Annual Performance Reports (APRs)** are submitted annually to TRIO by
each project. The Educational Opportunity Centers' APRs provide data on
the participants, activities and outcomes for the funded projects.

**College-ready participants** were defined in the 2002--03 and 2003--04
instructions for the Educational Opportunity Centers' APRs as high
school (and high school equivalency) graduates whom the grantee had
determined had the skills necessary to succeed in postsecondary
education. Because EOC projects may, under certain circumstances,
provide services to secondary students, in fig. 7 and table A-7,
12th-grade students were also considered college-ready.

**Educational Opportunity Centers projects,** housed at two- or
four-year colleges and universities and public or private agencies or
organizations, receive funds from the Educational Opportunity Centers
Program to assist adults from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter or
continue a postsecondary education program.

**Low-income individual** is an individual whose family's taxable income
did not exceed 150 percent of the poverty level amount in the calendar
year preceding the year in which the individual initially participates
in the project. The poverty level amount is determined using criteria
established by the U.S. Census Bureau.

**Participant status** indicates involvement in the Educational
Opportunity Centers Program for each student in the reporting year.

-   A *new participant* is an individual who participated in the
    Educational Opportunity Centers Program for the first time in the
    current reporting period.

-   A *continuing participant* is an individual who participated in the
    Educational Opportunity Centers Program in both the current
    reporting period and in a previous reporting period.

-   *All participants* include new and continuing participants reported
    by each project.

**Participants funded to serve** refers to the project's planned level
of service, in terms of numbers of students, as agreed to by the TRIO
national office before the beginning of the funding year.

**Postsecondary admission** refers to participants who are high school
graduates or who have completed the requirements to obtain a high school
equivalency degree, and other eligible individuals who have enrolled in
programs of postsecondary education for the first time during this
reporting period or have been admitted for the next academic term.

**Postsecondary persistence or completion** refers to participants who
were in programs of\
postsecondary education at the beginning of the reporting period and
have continued in or completed a program of postsecondary education
during the same period.

**Postsecondary reentry or transfer** refers to participants who were
previously dismissed or who halted their educational progress toward a
postsecondary degree and those participants wishing to transfer to
another institution or postsecondary program who reenrolled in a program
of postsecondary education during the reporting period or have been
readmitted for the next academic term.

**Potentially first-generation college status** refers to an individual
neither of whose natural or adoptive parents received a baccalaureate
degree, or a student who, prior to the age of 18, regularly resided with
and received support from only one natural or adoptive parent and whose
supporting parent did not receive a baccalaureate degree.

**Talent Search projects,** housed at two- or four-year colleges and
universities and public or private agencies or organizations, receive
funds from the Talent Search Program to identify and assist sixth- to
12th-grade students from disadvantaged backgrounds in completing high
school and enrolling in higher education, and encourage middle school,
high school and postsecondary dropouts to complete their education.

**Target school** refers to a secondary school designated by a Talent
Search or EOC project as a focus of project services.

![](media/image12.wmf)

Our mission is to ensure equal access to education

and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation.

[www.ed.gov](http://www.ed.gov/)

[^1]: EOC projects may serve individuals younger than 19 years old if
    such students cannot be appropriately served by a project of the
    Talent Search Program (another member program of the Federal TRIO
    Programs), and if the individual's participation will not dilute an
    EOC project's services to its primary audience.

[^2]: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education,
    *A Profile of the Educational Opportunity Centers Program:
    1999--2000*, Washington, D.C., 2002; U.S. Department of Education,
    Office of Postsecondary Education, *A Profile of the Educational
    Opportunity Centers Program: 1998--99*, Washington, D.C., 2002.

[^3]: For the new grant cycle beginning in 2006, the EOC Program
    established four mandatory objectives for all EOC projects: 1)
    enrollment in a continuing education program; 2) application for
    student financial aid; 3) application for postsecondary admissions;
    and 4) enrollment in postsecondary education.