UW-Madison spends nearly $5 million a year on the program, most from state funding.
Goldrick-Rab said the study was frustrated by the lack of data routinely collected about the program. Poor data use in the past led to the program making unrealistic and unsupported high rates of success, she said.
That was the case for a 2014 Cap Times feature story on the PEOPLE program.
The Education Northwest evaluation also flags a number of management deficiencies, including the need for better organization of systems and processes, better coordination with K-12, community and campus partners and improved recruiting, hiring and retention of staff.
Deficiencies in program design is also not uncommon in this arena, said Noel Radomski, director of WISCAPE, a UW-Madison center for research into post-secondary education challenges.
Much more on the People program here.
Addressing Madison’s long term, disastrous reading results and K-12 achievement issues would surely improve higher education opportunities.