The history of the Federal TRiO Programs is progressive. It began with Upward Bound, which emerged out of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 in response to the administration’s War on Poverty. In 1965, Educational Talent Search, the second outreach program, was created as part of the Higher Education Act. In 1968, Student Support Services, which was originally known as Special Services for Disadvantaged Students, was authorized by the Higher Education Amendments and became the third in a series of educational opportunity programs. By the late 1960’s, the term “TRiO” was coined to describe these federal programs.

Over the years, the TRiO Programs have been expanded and improved to provide a wider range of services and to reach more students who need assistance. The Higher Education Amendments of 1972 added the fourth program to the TRiO group by authorizing the Educational Opportunity Centers. The 1976 Education Amendments authorized the Training Program for Federal TRiO Programs, initially known as the Training Program for Special Programs Staff and Leadership Personnel. Amendments in 1986 added the sixth program, the Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program. Additionally, in 1990, the Department of Education created the Upward Bound Math / Science program to address the need for specific instruction in the fields of math science. The Upward Bound Math / Science program is administered under the same regulations as the regular Upward Bound program, but it must be applied for separately. And finally, the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 authorized the TRiO Dissemination Partnership program to encourage the replication of successful practices of TRiO programs by providing occasion and incentives for institutions and agencies to adapt demonstrably valuable TRiO program components, practices, strategies, and activities. The legislative requirements for all TRiO programs can be found in the Higher Education Act of 1965, Title IV, Part A, Subpart 2.