Early Academic Outreach Program

The Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) was established in 1976 by the University of California (UC) in response to the California State Legislatures' recommendation to expand post-secondary opportunities to every Californian student, including those who are first-generation, socio-economically disadvantaged, and English-language learners. As UC's largest academic preparation program, EAOP assists middle and high school students with academic preparation, admissions and financial aid requirements for higher education.

The program designs and provides services for the academic development of foster students, and deliver these services in partnership with other academic preparation programs, schools, other higher education institutes and community/industry partners.

The goal of the program to increase access for educationally disadvantaged students to the University of California is grounded in the philosophy that preparing for success in college is not simply one of many options for young people; it is their right.

EAOP is the largest UC academic preparation program. The program has offices located on every UC campus and the campuses serve schools within their geographic regions. In the 2006–07 academic year, EAOP served over 42,492 students in the cohort program alone. That year, EAOP served 259 high schools and 131 middle schools in both cohort and whole-school partner models. EAOP further reached over 9,000 families in workshops, college visits and family events.

The purpose of EAOP is to increase the number of students who have the opportunity to achieve a post-secondary education.

Research shows that EAOP students are more prepared for college than students who do not participate in the program. Independent academic studies and evaluations conducted for California's state legislature show that EAOP students surpass students statewide in terms of coursework and exam completion, UC eligibility, college enrollment and college persistence. For example:

• Official website

• Caspary, K.; Bland, J.; Aladjem, D.; Miller, F.; Biscocho, F. (2013). "Promoting access to college in an era of fiscal constraints: The University of California's Early Academic Outreach Program" (PDF). Menlo Park, CA: SRI International.
• President Mark G. Yudof (August 2013). "2011-12 Student Academic Preparation and Educational Partnerships (SAPEP) Funds and Outcomes" (PDF). University of California.
• "Annual Accountability Report" (PDF). University of California. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-13. Retrieved 2015-11-28.