Historically, Talent Search programs have concentrated their resources on juniors and seniors in high school. However in response to many recent studies evidencing the need for earlier intervention, the Secretary of Education, in 1989, began encouraging Talent Search projects to begin their efforts at the seventh grade level. Beginning in 1991, all funded Talent Search projects may have middle school components. Upward Bound provides intensive academic and personal support designed to motivate and prepare low income students and other first generation students for college. 569 projects, most often located at colleges and universities, enroll approximately 41,756 students.
Students receive instruction in literature, composition, mathematics, and science.
Instruction is scheduled both after school and on Saturdays during the academic year, and during the summer when the students reside on campus and attend classes on a full-time basis at the host college. Thirty-two Upward Bound projects focus their college preparatory services on veterans. During the summer of 1991, the Department of Education began a special initiative to establish Upward Bound Mathematics and Science centers at 29 sponsoring colleges and universities throughout the country. Seventy-five such centers serving 3,542 students are currently in operation. In addition to the traditional instruction offered in mathematics and science by Upward Bound, these centers stress mentoring by professionals working in the sciences, and research opportunities for the low income and minority high school students enrolled.