A History of Disadvantaged Student Education in Illinois: A Critical Inquiry of Adult Education at a Public Comprehensive Community College, 1976--1996

Abstract

This historiography spans the years 1976--1996. The focus was the educational programs for disadvantaged students in the state of Illinois, particularly at Parkland College, a comprehensive community college. The evidentiary base included traditional sources of verifiable documentation like course curriculums, financial records, and college catalogs. Essentially, the evidence illustrated that public community colleges in Illinois claim to offer academic remediation for disadvantaged students; but from 1976--1989, administrators primarily invested money in counseling. It was not until the 1990s that monies were invested in programs that truly focused on academic development, and that type of programming was targeted for women.