The U.S. Department of Education announced that Tarrant County College (TCC) will receive Federal TRIO, Talent Search grant funding of more than $1.3 million over the next five years to assist low-income students, from five Tarrant County schools, who would be the first members of their families to prepare for and enroll in college and earn degrees. The project will serve students at Barnett, Shackelford, and Nichols Junior High, and Bowie and Lamar High Schools.
In 1964, the Economic Opportunity Act established the first TRIO program in response to the War on Poverty. Talent Search was the second of seven federal “TRIO” programs later authorized by the Higher Education Act. One of seven Federal TRIO Programs, the goal of Talent Search is to increase the number of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who complete high school and enroll in and complete their postsecondary education (U. S. Department of Education, 2022). At least two-thirds of the students in each local Talent Search program are from low-income economic backgrounds and families in which neither parent has a bachelor’s degree. Research demonstrates that students whose parents do not have a college degree have more difficulties navigating the complexity of decisions that college requires for success. Talent Search supports students from low-income families and first-generation students who have not had the academic opportunities their college peers have had and helps remove obstacles preventing them from thriving academically.
The TCC Talent Search program will provide academic advising, tutoring, information on postsecondary institutions, education services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of students, college tours, cultural enrichment activities, mentoring, workshops; and prepare students for college entrance exams and tackling admission applications, financial aid, and scholarship forms.
Talent Search funding will ensure that more middle and high school students receive the support necessary to succeed in secondary education, graduate, and succeed in postsecondary education and beyond,” stated TCC Chancellor Elva LeBlanc.
As of 2022, more than 3,100 TRIO projects serve more than 812,000 participants yearly. TRIO projects are in every state and territory in the nation. More than 312,000 students are enrolled in 473 Talent Search TRIO projects. According to recent data collected by the U. S. Department of Education, 80% of Talent Search participants enrolled in postsecondary institutions immediately following high school (Council for Opportunity in Education 2022).
About Tarrant County College
Tarrant County College is one of the 20 largest higher education institutions in the United States and boasts the second-lowest tuition of Texas’ Top 10 community colleges. As a comprehensive two-year college with six campuses in Tarrant County, and online, TCC offers a wide range of opportunities for learners of all ages and backgrounds that include traditional programs, such as Associate of Arts or Associate of Applied Science degrees; workforce and economic development programs; technical and skilled trades programs; and customized training programs for area businesses and corporations. Students also may take advantage of Weekend College through which they can complete an associate degree in 18 months or less by attending class full-time through weekend and online classes.
Mission
Tarrant County College District provides affordable and open access to quality teaching and learning.