U . S . D E P A R T M E N T O F E D U C A T I O N

An Interim Report on the

Educational Opportunity 

Centers Program:

2002–03 and 2003–04, With 

Select Data From 2000–02

Prepared for:

U.S. Department of Education

Offi ce of Postsecondary Education

Federal TRIO Programs

By:

Margaret Marcus Hale

Tsze Chan

American Institutes for Research

2006

An Interim Report on the

Educational Opportunity 

Centers Program:

2002–03 and 2003–04, With 

Select Data From 2000–02

 U . S . D E P A R T M E N T O F E D U C A T I O N
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 offi cer’s representative. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the positions 

or policies of the Department of Education. No offi cial 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

Offi ce 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, Offi ce 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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20794-1398; or

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On request, this publication is available in alternate formats, such as Braille, large print or computer diskette. For 

more information, please contact the Department’s Alternate Format Center at 202-260-0852 or 202-260-0818.
An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02 iii

Contents

Tables .......................................................................................................................................................iv

Figures .....................................................................................................................................................vi

Foreword .................................................................................................................................................vii

Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................................................ix

Introduction ..............................................................................................................................................1

Section I: Educational Opportunity Centers Projects and Participants ......................................................3

Section II: Program Outcomes ................................................................................................................11

Appendix A: Supporting Tables ................................................................................................................17

Glossary ..................................................................................................................................................23
iv An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02

Tables

1. Educational Opportunity Centers Program funding characteristics, by reporting year: 2001–02 

through 2003–04 .......................................................................................................................................5

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

3. Number and percentage of Educational Opportunity Centers participants with limited English 

profi ciency, by type of host institution: 2003–04 ......................................................................................10

4. Number and percentage of Educational Opportunity Centers participants who were veterans, 

by type of host institution: 2003–04 ........................................................................................................10

A-1. Number and percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, 

by participant status and reporting year: 2001–02 through 2003–04 .......................................................17

A-2. Number and percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, 

by eligibility status: 2003–04 ...................................................................................................................17

A-3. Number and percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, 

by gender: 2003–04 .................................................................................................................................17
An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02 v

A-4. Number and percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, 

by race and ethnicity: 2003–04 ................................................................................................................18

A-5. Number and percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, 

by academic status or grade level: 2003–04 .............................................................................................18

A-6. Number and percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, 

by age (years): 2003–04 ...........................................................................................................................18

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 ..................................19

A-8. Number and percentage of achievement in postsecondary persistence of Educational Opportunity 

Centers postsecondary students, by reporting year: 2002–03 and 2003–04 ............................................20

A-9. Number and percentage distribution of postsecondary placements of Educational Opportunity 

Centers participants, by type of EOC host institution: 2003–04 .............................................................21

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 ...................................................................................................................................................22
vi An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02

Figures

1. Percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by participant status and 

reporting year: 2001–02 through 2003–04 .................................................................................................7

2. Percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by eligibility status: 

2003–04 .....................................................................................................................................................7

3. Percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by gender: 2003–04 ................8

4. Percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by race and ethnicity: 

2003–04 .....................................................................................................................................................8

5. Percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by academic status or 

grade level: 2003–04 ..................................................................................................................................9

6. Percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by age (years): 2003–04 ..........9

7. Percentage of achievement in postsecondary admission of college-ready Educational Opportunity 

Centers participants, by reporting year: 2000–01 through 2003–04 ........................................................13

8. Percentage of achievement in postsecondary reentry of Educational Opportunity Centers 

postsecondary students, by reporting year: 2000–01 through 2003–04 ....................................................14

9. Percentage of achievement in postsecondary persistence of Educational Opportunity Centers 

postsecondary students, by reporting year: 2002–03 and 2003–04 ..........................................................15

10. Percentage distribution of postsecondary placements of Educational Opportunity Centers Program 

participants, by type of EOC host institution: 2003–04 ...........................................................................16
An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02 vii

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 

profi les 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
viii An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02
An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02 ix

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 

fi gures presented in this report.
x An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02
An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02 1

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 fi rst-generation 

college students. An important objective of the EOC Program is to counsel participants on applying for 

admission to postsecondary institutions and for fi nancial 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 fi rst time. All funded projects 

submitted their APRs for reporting years 2002–03 and 2003–04.

National profi le 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 fi rst 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. 

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, Offi ce of Postsecondary Education, A Profi le of the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 

1999–2000, Washington, D.C., 2002; U.S. Department of Education, Offi ce of Postsecondary Education, A Profi le of the 

Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 1998–99, Washington, D.C., 2002.
2 An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02

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 fi ndings are presented as highlights 

followed by tables and fi gures. Appendix A presents the actual numbers from which the percentages 

were derived. The glossary defi nes the terms used in this report.

Introduction
An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02 3

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 signifi cantly from year to year, the highlights below 

refer to only the most recent year, 2003–04.

• In 2001–02, the fi nal 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 fi rst 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 
Section I: Educational Opportunity Centers Projects and Participants

4 An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02

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 signifi cantly, 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 (fi g.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 fi rstgeneration (fi g. 2). Almost 12 percent were potentially fi rst-generation only, and just over 9 percent 

were low-income only (fi g. 2).

• In 2003–04, about 36 percent of participants were male and almost 64 percent were female 

(fi g. 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 (fi g. 

4). Participants who were American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native Hawaiian or other 

Pacifi c Islander, and individuals who categorized themselves as of more than one race, constituted 

about 4 percent or less each (fi g. 4).

• In 2003–04, almost 39 percent of the participants had a high school diploma or alternative 

certifi cation (fi g. 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 (fi g. 5).

• In 2003–04, over 44 percent of EOC participants were age 28 and older (fi g. 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 (fi g. 6).

• In 2003–04, between 5 and 6 percent of participants served by all types of EOC host institutions 

had limited English profi ciency (table 3).

• Less than 3 percent of EOC participants were veterans (table 4).
Section I: Educational Opportunity Centers Projects and Participants

An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02 5

Table 1. Educational Opportunity Centers Program funding characteristics, by reporting year: 2001–02 

through 2003–04

 2001–02 2002–03a 2003–04

Funding characteristics 

Number of projects funded 82 139 139

Number of participants projects were funded to serveb

 160,836 217,836 217,265

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

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

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

 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 fi les 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.

Reporting year
Section I: Educational Opportunity Centers Projects and Participants

6 An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02

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 Average 

 projects that projects that Number of Percent of all number of 

 Number of Percent of submitted submitted participants participants participants 

 projects all projects APRs APRs reported reported reported

Type of host institution 

2001–02

Four-yeara

 40 48.8 40 100.0 62,392 37.7 1,560

Two-yeara

 23 28.0 22 95.7 41,447 25.0 1,884

Community organizationsb

 19 23.2 18 94.7 61,818 37.3 3,434

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

2002–03c

Four-yeara 64 46.0 64 100.0 84,291 39.3 1,317

Two-yeara

 50 36.0 50 100.0 59,133 27.5 1,183

Community organizationsb

 25 18.0 25 100.0 71,260 33.2 2,850

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

2003–04

Four-yeara

 64 46.0 64 100.0 91,903 40.0 1,436

Two-yeara

 50 36.0 50 100.0 69,134 30.1 1,383

Community organizationsb

 25 18.0 25 100.0 68,559 29.9 2,742

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

SOURCE: Data from the program fi les 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-year and two-year include public and private institutions.

b

Community organizations include public or private agencies or organizations.

c

The EOC Program began a new, four-year funding cycle in 2002–03.
Section I: Educational Opportunity Centers Projects and Participants

An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02 7

New participants Continuing participants

0

20

40

60

80

100

Percent

2001–02 2002–03a 2003–04

Reporting year

81.5

18.5

82.9

17.1

76.5

23.5

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 fi les 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.

Low-income and potentially 

first-generation (75.1%)

Low-income only (9.2%)

Potentially first-generation only (11.7%)

Other (4.0%)

Figure 2. Percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by eligibility status: 

2003–04

SOURCE: Data from the program fi les 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.
Section I: Educational Opportunity Centers Projects and Participants

8 An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02

American Indian or Alaska Native (3.9%)

Asian (1.4%)

African-American (36.2%)

Hispanic or Latino (16.2%)

White (38.8%)

More than one race reported (2.0%)

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander (0.5%)

Unknown (1.1%)

Figure 4. Percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by race and ethnicity: 

2003–04

SOURCE: Data from the program fi les 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.

0

20

40

60

80

100

Percent

Gender

Male Female

36.2

63.8

Figure 3. Percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by gender: 2003–04

SOURCE: Data from the program fi les 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.
Section I: Educational Opportunity Centers Projects and Participants

An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02 9

Age 11–13 (0.1%)

Age 14–18 (15.7%)

Age 19–27 (39.3%)

Age 28 and above (44.5%)

Unknown (0.5%)

Figure 6. Percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by age (years): 

2003–04

SOURCE: Data from the program fi les 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.

Percent

0 10 20 30 40 50

Academic status or grade level

Postsecondary trasfer

Postsecondary student

Postseconday dropout

High school graduate or GED

Adult without high school credential

Secondary school dropout

12th grade only

9th–11th grades

6th–8th grades 0.1

1.8

8.4

1.6

16.4

38.9

13.3

17.5

2.0

Figure 5. Percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by academic status 

or grade level: 2003–04

SOURCE: Data from the program fi les 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.
Section I: Educational Opportunity Centers Projects and Participants

10 An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02

Table 4. Number and percentage of Educational Opportunity Centers participants who were veterans, by 

type of host institution: 2003–04

 Percent of all 

 Number of veterans participants reported

Type of host institution

Four-yeara

 2,837 3.1

Two-yeara

 1,937 2.8

Community organizationsb

 1,914 2.8

 All projects 6,688 2.9

SOURCE: Data from the program fi les 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 or organizations.

Participant veterans

Table 3. Number and percentage of Educational Opportunity Centers participants with limited English 

profi ciency, by type of host institution: 2003–04

 Number of participants with Percent of all

 limited English profi ciency participants reported

Type of host institution

Four-yeara

 5,463 5.9

Two-yeara

 3,349 4.8

Community organizationsb

 3,854 5.6

 All projects 12,666 5.5

SOURCE: Data from the program fi les 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 or organizations.

Participants with limited English profi ciency
An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02 11

Section II

Program Outcomes

As briefl y 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 identifi ed the following academic milestones as program 

outcomes for EOC projects:3

Postsecondary admission and fi nancial 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 identifi ed 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 identifi ed 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 identifi ed 

objective. It should be noted that many projects reported assisting more students in applying for 

postsecondary admission and fi nancial aid than the total number of students served. For example, among 

the 138 grantees who had identifi ed 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 

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 fi nancial aid; 3) application for postsecondary 

admissions; and 4) enrollment in postsecondary education.
Section II: Program Outcomes

12 An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02

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 fi nancial 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 fi rst 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 refl ect the start-up time needed by new EOC projects for conducting program 

activities relating to this objective. Comparable fi gures for the fi rst 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 (fi g. 8). Part of the decrease may 

refl ect 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 fi gure 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 (fi g. 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 (fi g. 

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 (fi g. 10).
Section II: Program Outcomes

An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02 13

0

20

40

60

80

100

2000–01 2001–02 2002–03a 2003–04

Reporting year

Percent

66.2 66.2

56.2 57.4

Figure 7. Percentage of achievement in postsecondary admission of college-ready Educational 

Opportunity Centers participants, by reporting year: 2000–01 through 2003–04

SOURCE: Data from the program fi les 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 identifi ed a target rate to be achieved, recruited the appropriate participants to serve and reported 

having participants attaining the identifi ed objective. The percentage of postsecondary admission was derived by dividing 

the number of participants enrolled in or admitted to a program of postsecondary education (fi rst-time enrollment in 

postsecondary education) by the number of college-ready participants. College-ready participants are defi ned as 12th-grade 

high school students and high school (and high school equivalency) graduates.

a

The EOC Program began a new, four-year funding cycle in 2002–03.
Section II: Program Outcomes

14 An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02

Figure 8. Percentage of achievement in postsecondary reentry of Educational Opportunity Centers 

postsecondary students, by reporting year: 2000–01 through 2003–04

0

20

40

60

80

100

2000–01a 2001–02a 2002–03b,c 2003–04b

Reporting year

Percent

65.1

60.0 59.2 57.1

SOURCE: Data from the program fi les 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 identifi ed a target rate to be 

achieved, recruited the appropriate participants to serve and reported having participants attaining the identifi ed objective.

a

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.

b

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.

c

The EOC Program began a new four-year funding cycle in 2002–03.
Section II: Program Outcomes

An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02 15

Figure 9. Percentage of achievement in postsecondary persistence of Educational Opportunity Centers 

postsecondary students, by reporting year: 2002–03 and 2003–04

0

20

40

60

80

100

Percent

Reporting Year

2002–03a 2003–04

88.3

82.0

SOURCE: Data from the program fi les 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 identifi ed a target rate to be achieved, 

recruited the appropriate participants to serve and reported having participants attaining the identifi ed 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.

a

The EOC Program began a new, four-year funding cycle in 2002–03. 
Section II: Program Outcomes

16 An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02

0

20

40

60

80

100

Percent

Four-yeara Two-yeara Otherc

Four-yeara Two-yeara Community organizationsb All EOC projects

Type of EOC host institution

21.0

47.4

31.6

8.9

82.3

8.8

11.0

58.4

30.6

13.9

62.0

24.1

Figure 10. Percentage distribution of postsecondary placements of Educational Opportunity Centers 

Program participants, by type of EOC host institution: 2003–04

SOURCE: Data from the program fi les 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

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

b

Community organizations include public or private agencies or organizations.

c

Other includes public or nonprofi t vocational or technical schools, proprietary schools and unknown schools.
An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02 17

Table A-3. Number and percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by 

gender: 2003–04

 Female Male Total

Number 146,472 83,124 229,596

Percent 63.8 36.2 100.0

SOURCE: Data from the program fi les 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.

Gender

Table A-2. Number and percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by 

eligibility status: 2003–04

 Low-income and Low-income Potentially fi rst-

 potentially fi rst-generation only generation only Other Total

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 fi les 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.

Eligibility status

Table A-1. Number and percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by 

participant status and reporting year: 2001–02 through 2003–04

 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 fi les 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.

Reporting year

Participant status

2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 a

Appendix A

Supporting Tables

This appendix shows the data from which the tables and fi gures in the sections I and II are derived, 

and enables readers to better understand the metrics used in this report.
Appendix A: Supporting Tables

18 An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02

Table A-6. Number and percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by age 

(years): 2003–04

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

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 fi les 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.

Age (years)

Table A-5. Number and percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by 

academic status or grade level: 2003–04

 Secondary Adult without High school Post- Post- Post-

 6th–9th 9th–11th 12th-grade school high school graduate or secondary secondary secondary

 grades grades only dropout credential GED dropout student transfer Total 

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 fi les 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.

Academic status or grade level

Table A-4. Number and percentage distribution of Educational Opportunity Centers participants, by race 

and ethnicity: 2003–04

 Native

 American Hawaiian More than 

 Indian or African- Hispanic or other one race

 Alaska Native Asian American or Latino White Pacifi c Islander reported Unknown Total 

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 fi les 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.

Race and ethnicity
Appendix A: Supporting Tables

An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02 19

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

Admissiona Reentry

2000–01b

Number of EOC projects providing complete data 78 66

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

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

Percent participants in relevant projects who met objective 66.2 65.1

2001–02b

Number of EOC projects providing complete data 74 63

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

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

Percent participants in relevant projects who met objective 66.2 60.0

2002–03c

Number of EOC projects providing complete data 133 106

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

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

Percent participants in relevant projects who met objective 56.2 59.2

2003–04c

Number of EOC projects providing complete data 133 108

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

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

Percent participants in relevant projects who met objective 57.4 57.1

SOURCE: Data from the program fi les 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 defi ned 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 identifi ed a target rate to be achieved, recruited the appropriate participants to serve 

and reported having participants attaining the identifi ed 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 (fi rst-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.

Postsecondary outcomes
Appendix A: Supporting Tables

20 An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02

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 persistencea

2002–03b

Number of EOC projects providing complete data 52

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

Number of appropriate participants served 20,610

Percent participants in relevant projects who met objective 88.3

2003–04c

Number of EOC projects providing complete data 68

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

Number of appropriate participants served 24,529

Percent participants in relevant projects who met objective 82.0

SOURCE: Data from the program fi les 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 identifi ed a target rate to be achieved, recruited 

the appropriate participants to serve, and reported having participants attaining the identifi ed 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.
Appendix A: Supporting Tables

An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02 21

Table A-9. Number and percentage distribution of postsecondary placements of Educational Opportunity 

Centers participants, by type of EOC host institution: 2003–04 

 Four-yeara Two-yeara Otherb 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 organizationsc

 11,360 21,706 4,095 37,161

 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 organizationsc

 30.6 58.4 11.0 100.0

 All projects 24.1 62.0 13.9 100.0

SOURCE: Data are from the program fi les 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

Other includes public or nonprofi t vocational or technical schools, proprietary schools and unknown schools.

c

Community organizations include public or private agencies or organizations.

Postsecondary placements
Appendix A: Supporting Tables

22 An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02

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 EOC Number of eligible participants

 projectsa

 reported successes reported 

Program outcome measure

Postsecondary admission assistanceb

 32 35,774 29,291

Postsecondary fi nancial aid assistancec

 16 21,971 19,142

Postsecondary admissiond

 10 7,239 5,449

Postsecondary reentrye

 7 1,360 456

Postsecondary persistencef

 8 1,495 735

SOURCE: Data are from the program fi les 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 identifi ed a target rate to be achieved, recruited the appropriate 

participants to serve and reported having participants attaining the identifi ed 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 fi nancial 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.
An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02 23

Glossary

This glossary lists terms used in the report. Some of them are specifi c 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 defi ned 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 fi g. 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 fi rst 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 offi ce before the beginning of the funding year.
Glossary

24 An Interim Report on the Educational Opportunity Centers Program: 2002–03 and 2003–04, With Select Data From 2000–02

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 fi rst 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 fi rst-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 sixthto 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.

Our mission is to ensure equal access to education 

and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation.

www.ed.gov