MY TURN: TRIO program at risk of being cut

To my neighbors in Kootenai and Shoshone counties, it’s important you know that one of the United States’ cornerstone educational programs is at risk of being cut. One week ago, President Trump announced his 2026 budget proposal, which contained the elimination of Federal TRIO programs. TRIO itself isn’t an acronym (as most people think), but rather literally means three, as its inception in 1964 (a partner program to Federal Pell Grants), there were three programs. TRIO now is a group of eight federally funded programs designed to help individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds pursue higher education. These programs aim to address the barriers that low-income, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities face when trying to access and complete college degrees. TRIO provides services and support to help these students succeed academically and personally.  

There are 32 TRIO programs in Idaho, three of which are in North Idaho: Student Support Services (SSS) at North Idaho College, Education Talent Search, and Silver Valley Upward Bound (both hosted by U of I CDA Campus). Educational Talent Search (ETS) is funded to serve over 700 students in 6-12th grade within Kootenai County, as well as adults. Schools currently served include all of Post Falls School District schools, Lakeland Junior and Senior high schools, Mountain View High School and Venture High School in Coeur d’Alene. Silver Valley Upward Bound (SVUB) serves 65 students in the Silver Valley area. SVUB currently serves Kellogg High and Wallace High. SVUB advisers work in these schools as career and college readiness liaisons. During the summer, SVUB students participate in a six-week summer residential program on college campuses. 

TRIO has been serving our community for decades and like its slogan suggests, “TRIO Works!” Upward Bound students are more than twice as likely to earn a bachelor’s degree by age 24 than students in the lowest income quartile. Student Support Services participants are 47% more likely to complete a two-year degree or transfer and 18% more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree than similar nonparticipants. Talent Search students are 33% more likely to enroll in college than other students from the bottom income quartile.  

Sometime this month, Congress will meet in its various subcommittees on education and decide the fate of this critical program. TRIO is not a relic of the past as the Trump administration has been noted as saying. It has and is an unambiguously effective educational program.

Now is the time to contact our senators and congresspeople. 

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Megan Dardis-Kunz, MSW, LMSW, is a social work professor at Boise State University.