Board approves College Possible Texas study with added files, asks for clearer FERPA exception

The Education Research Center advisory board on Sept. 25 approved a University of Virginia proposal to study whether intensive college advising from College Possible Texas affects students’ employment and earnings, while requiring amendments to the remote access request. Ben Castleman, the lead presenter from the University of Virginia, told the board the project builds on a randomized controlled trial begun in 2015 and seeks to link the experimental sample to Texas Workforce Commission earnings and coordinating‑board records on major choice and aid receipt. Castleman said College Possible Texas maintains personally identifying information and consent for external matching for the experimental sample. Board members requested specific additional files and clarifications before data access is finalized. Celeste and other board members asked the research team to: specify which FERPA exception they will rely on; add CBM OOS and CBM OO2 files and TSI files to the remote access form; and consider CBM OC1 where relevant. The board also noted the program is a nonprofit and that College Possible Texas is the successor to College Forward. Celeste moved to approve the proposal with the amendments (adding CBM OOS, CBM OO2, and TSI files and a revised purpose statement); Angie seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Castleman acknowledged the board’s guidance and said the team would revise the proposal to request the additional files and the specified FERPA exception. Board members also warned that supplemental data may not be available in the fall and advised the researchers to be flexible on timing.