This paper describes the impacts of the SOURCE program, which were analyzed through the use of a large-scale, randomized control trial; it reports that targeted peer-to-peer advising is an effective strategy to increase four-year college enrollment and persistence for program participants.
This paper reports on a project that sought to determine how it might be possible to increase college enrollment and persistence, especially among low-income high school students. The paper addresses the policy questions and implications by describing the impacts of the Student Outreach for College Enrollment (SOURCE) program in Los Angeles, California. The SOURCE program serves as a demonstration program, first implemented in the 2006-2007 school year by the EdBoost Education Corporation, and sought to measure the impact of providing a low-cost intervention aimed at helping disadvantaged youth in Los Angeles to successfully complete the college and financial application processes. The paper describes the impacts of the SOURCE program on several college and financial aid access outcomes; it uses random assignment design; it reviews the research that motivated the design of the SOURCE program; and discusses research results and their implications for policy and practice.