Helping First Generation College Students Achieve a Bright Future

TRIO students overcome many obstacles to achieve their higher-education goals.  We must be just as persistent in securing the progress we have made.  Five years ago, the federal Education Department denied dozens of applications for Upward Bound funding based on arbitrary, non-substantive formatting criteria such as line spacing or font size irregularities. 

After many months of advocacy, including three letters I wrote to the Department, several phone calls with the Secretary, and working with my Appropriations Committee colleagues to secure a provision in the Department’s funding bill, we were able to reverse this ill-conceived policy.

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