The Summative Impact of College Access Interventions: A Program Evaluation of Gear Up North Carolina

This study evaluated the summative impact of interventions in a statewide Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant. This United States Department of Education federal grant was funded at $19.2M in 2005 to serve students in 19 North Carolina low-income school districts. Direct student and parent services were examined in relation to students’ subsequent postsecondary enrollment focusing on the 2010-11 graduating seniors in the GEAR UP North Carolina program. This study examined the impact parent and student services had on postsecondary enrollment. A fidelity index assessing whether grant objectives were met was also created to determine if meeting the grant’s objectives was related to postsecondary enrollment. Overall, student services were shown to have an impact on postsecondary enrollment. In particular, there were two student services and three parent services that positively predicted postsecondary enrollment. Additionally, grade-point average, course of study, and gender also predicted the likelihood of postsecondary enrollment. There was a significant correlation between meeting the grant’s objectives and postsecondary enrollment. Policy recommendations are included for GEAR UP programs, as well as suggestions for future GEAR UP evaluation.