A new agenda & a new dialogue: Higher education reforms...

So I have been reading the latest draft report from the Commission on the Future of Higher Education (U.S. Department of Education's website http://www.ed.gov)... It's been interesting thus far. Education has always been one of my soapboxes so even though I'm nose deep in a 28-page document outlining the current problems and recommendations in higher education, I've been enthralled, enlightened, and curious as to what legislation, if any, will come out of this once it's finalized.

One of the introductory paragraphs in the recommendations section outlines the Commission's goal in compiling this information was: "...we offer recommendations that aim to improve access to higher education and make it more affordable. We seek to strengthen quality and encourage innovation. And we want to bring much-needed transparency and accountability to our colleges and universities. Secretary [of Education] Spellings charged us to be bold. The Commission believes that America must embrace a new agenda and engage in a new dialogue that places the needs of students and the nation at its center." Most of the language used in the report is ideological with a lot of "shoulds" involved. However there were some eyebrow-lifting facts thrown in there that I found very interesting.

1. The U.S. is 9th in the global education at the collegiate level. We're 16th in high school education achievement. We have fallen behind from 1st place in education our citizens and it appears we will continue to lag behind as global communites leap ahead.

2. There is too much variation in expectations from high school graduates. Only eight states require Algebra II in order to graduate. Proficiency in this course is the minimum level of mathematics needed at the collegiate level. Remedial courses are increasing at colleges as freshmen arrive unprepared for the expectations of college academia. Neither are there efforts to match high school expectations at graduation to those expectations colleges have of incoming freshmen.

3. Forty percent of college students are considered non-traditional - those adults who return for continuing education in their chosen field and/or retraining for new skills.

4. The rising cost of tuition has outpaced inflation and family incomes, making it even more difficult for low- and median-income families to send their children to college. State appropriations for education are not expected to make a come-back from the recent recession and thus it is left to the colleges to attempt to make education more affordable while maintaining facilities and competitive faculty salaries.

These are only a few of the things discussed in the report but I've read enough to be a believer! From personal experience I can verify that my high school education did not provide the necessary entrance skills for collegiate writing and mathematics. Nor did I understand (and thus obviously didn't use) the skill of critical thinking. With the exception of mathematics (which I've always been good at and just settled for an acceptable collegiate grade), I developed my writing and critical thinking skills in college. So, in this sense, it is entirely accurate to say that I had remedial education needs that caused me to struggle academically while, if I had been better prepared in high school, I might not have given up, in my freshmen year, that goal of becoming a healthcare provider.

Anyhow, take a peek if you like those kinds of reports. If not...well, it might make for a good "puts-me-to-sleep" tool.