Getting better, but doing worse: report says fewer high schoolers continue education.The good news is that more high school students are taking courses that prepare them for college. The bad news, says James Hunt This article is about the racing driver. For other people named James Hunt, see James Hunt (disambiguation). James Simon Wallis Hunt (b. 29 August 1947, Belmont, Surrey – d. , chair of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education higher education Study beyond the level of secondary education. Institutions of higher education include not only colleges and universities but also professional schools in such fields as law, theology, medicine, business, music, and art. , is that "these improvements have not been reflected in significantly higher college enrollment or completion rates." That assessment is highlighted in the Center's new report, "Measuring Up 2004: The National Report Card on Higher Education," released last month. The biennial biennial, plant requiring two years to complete its life cycle, as distinguished from an annual or a perennial. In the first year a biennial usually produces a rosette of leaves (e.g., the cabbage) and a fleshy root, which acts as a food reserve over the winter. Report Card measures the nation's and each state's performance in providing education and training beyond high school. Only "slightly more" students who enroll in college are completing two- or four-year degree programs than was the case a decade ago, says the report. Patrick Callan, president of the National Center, says that other countries have been doing a better job of providing higher education access and baccalaureate degree achievement than has the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. over the past decade. "We can no longer attribute all of our college access and quality problems to the failure of public schools," says Callan. "The fact is high schools have improved over the Last 10 years and we haven't seen commensurate com·men·su·rate adj. 1. Of the same size, extent, or duration as another. 2. Corresponding in size or degree; proportionate: a salary commensurate with my performance. 3. higher education gains." One reason? "College has become less affordable over the last decade," says Hunt. "At a time when we should be encouraging eligible students to attend college, we are making it more difficult for students and their families." The report, he says, is "a wake-up call for the nation, the states, and for our colleges and universities." Measuring Up 2004 evaluates each state according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. five areas: preparation for college, participation, completion, affordability, and benefits (that is, the economic and civic benefits that accrue to a state that has a more highly educated population). Key findings include the fact that 44 percent of the states have improved academic preparation, but just eight stares have improved participation (the number of people continuing education continuing education: see adult education. continuing education or adult education Any form of learning provided for adults. In the U.S. the University of Wisconsin was the first academic institution to offer such programs (1904). beyond high school). Nineteen states have shown a decline in the participation category. For the full report, visit www.highereducation.org. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion