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ISBN: 978-0-935302-78-3
Laura W. Perna and Edward J. Smith, Editors
Also known as “free tuition” and “free college” programs, college promise programs are an emerging approach for increasing higher education attainment of people in particular places. To maximize the effectiveness of their efforts and investments, program leaders and policymakers need research-based evidence to inform program design, implementation, and evaluation. With the goal of addressing this knowledge need, this volume presents a collection of research studies that examine several categories and variations of college promise programs. These theoretically grounded empirical investigations use varied data sources and analytic techniques to examine the effects of college promise programs that have different design features and operate in different places. Individually and collectively, the results of these studies have implications for the design and implementation of promise programs if these programs are to create meaningful improvements in attainment for people from underserved groups. The authors’ efforts also provide a useful foundation for the next generation of college promise research.
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About the Editors
Laura W. Perna is Centennial Presidential Professor of Education and executive director of the Alliance for Higher Education and Democracy (AHEAD) at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research examines the ways that social structures, institutional practices, and public policies promote and limit college access and success, particularly for groups that continue to be underrepresented in higher education.
Edward J. Smith is a program officer on the Kresge Foundation’s Education Team. He manages a portfolio of grants focused on promoting college opportunity and degree completion for marginalized students. His research analyzes city-led efforts to increase educational attainment.