NCPR Awarded Houston Endowment Grant

The National Center for Postsecondary Research (NCPR) is pleased to announce the receipt of a $900,000 grant from Houston Endowment. The funds will be used to support the work of colleges in Texas that are participating in a rigorous evaluation of Developmental Summer Bridge (DSB) programs. These intensive programs are designed to help recent high school graduates enter college ready to undertake college-level coursework. DSB programs may have the potential to reduce the need for developmental education courses in math, reading, and writing that many students with weak academic skills must take—at considerable cost to themselves and to taxpayers—before enrolling in college courses that count toward a degree. The research, conducted in collaboration with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, will reveal whether students participating in DSB programs are more successful in college than nonparticipants. Funds from Houston Endowment will allow colleges to strengthen their DSB program offerings, offer a stipend to participating students, and receive technical assistance from NCPR. LC Synthesis Executive Summary