ABSTRACT
Indiana was the fi rst state to develop a comprehensive approach to improving educational opportunities for low-income students. Th e Twenty-First Century Scholars Program (TFCS) was modeled aft er the “I have a dream” program in New York City schools. Any low-income student who took a pledge to prepare for college would receive a promise of fi nancial aid equal to tuition; in addition, programs would be created so that the families of the students could learn how to help them prepare for and succeed in college. Governor Evan Bayh introduced the program into legislation in 1990, but the program was controversial and became an unfunded mandate. Th e Lilly Endowment began funding the parent component of the program in 1992, and eventually the state funded its grant obligation through the program. TFCS has been treated as a national model (Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, 2002), with features of the program being replicated in programs in other states.
