States

Report: College Preparation Better, But Access Falling

By Lisa Fine Goldstein — October 09, 2002 2 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Many states have made noticeable strides since 2000 in preparing students for college, according to a biennial report card on states’ higher education efforts.

“Measuring Up 2002" is available from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.

But at the same time, it says, students’ access to higher education has declined because college has become less affordable since the first such report was issued by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education two years ago.

Fifteen states improved their grades for preparing students for college through their K-12 education systems. Those states had success because they offered more upper-level mathematics and science courses, according to the report, “Measuring Up 2002,” released by the San Jose, Calif.- based center last week.

Meanwhile, the report’s authors lowered the nation’s overall grade on college affordability from a C-minus to a D. Most states had trouble in that category because of revenue shortfalls, steep tuition increases, and what the report characterizes as insufficient investments in student financial aid. California bucked the trend and scored an A because of its tuition program for disadvantaged families, the report says.

“States are forced to spend money on mandatory things like prisons and Medicaid, so colleges get less appropriated to them,” said Robert H. Atwell, the president emeritus of the American Council on Education, a Washington- based association for universities and colleges. “Colleges raise tuition. Then families can’t afford the tuition.”

Low Political Profile

Aside from college preparation and affordability, the report grades states in three other areas: the percentage of state residents enrolled in higher education; the percentage who complete their degrees or other educational goals; and what the report terms “benefits,” a grab bag of social and financial indices.

When students get into college, can they complete their degrees? No more than 70 percent of full-time students complete a degree within six years of enrolling in college in any state, the report says.

Though 42 states went up a grade in at least one category since the first report, no state received straight A’s. All 50 states dropped a grade in at least one category. The grading was based on data from the federal government and private institutions.

The center, whose board is chaired by former Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. of North Carolina, receives funding through foundations. Virginia B. Edwards, the editor and publisher of Education Week, is a member of its board.

Higher education advocates say they hope the report will put higher education on the radar screen in the upcoming elections.

“The whole report is addressed to state policymakers; it is not for institutions,” Mr. Atwell said. “It’s amazing to me that higher education isn’t more of an election issue.”

Related Tags:

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Disrupting PD Day in Schools with Continuous Professional Learning Experiences
Hear how this NC School District achieved district-wide change by shifting from traditional PD days to year-long professional learning cycles
Content provided by BetterLesson
Jobs Virtual Career Fair for Teachers and K-12 Staff
Find teaching jobs and other jobs in K-12 education at the EdWeek Top School Jobs virtual career fair.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Teaching Webinar
Teacher Perspectives: What is the Future of Virtual Education?
Hear from practicing educators on how virtual and hybrid options offer more flexibility and best practices for administrative support.
Content provided by Class

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

States DeSantis to Expand Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' Law to All Grades
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ' administration is moving to forbid classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades.
3 min read
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis answers questions from the media in the Florida Cabinet following his State of the State address during a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis answers questions from the media in the Florida Cabinet following his State of the State address during a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla.
Phil Sears/AP
States Here's How 4 States Spent Their ESSER Money
The Council of Chief State School Officers highlighted how state education agencies have used federal pandemic aid.
5 min read
States What the Education Secretary Said School Leaders Should Prioritize Right Now
Miguel Cardona, in a pair of speeches, urged K-12 leaders to lean into efforts to support student mental health and academic achievement.
5 min read
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona delivers a speech during the “Raise the Bar: Lead the World” event in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 24, 2023.
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona speaks at the “Raise the Bar: Lead the World” event in Washington, on Jan. 24, 2023. Cardona spoke to state superintendents and school district leaders in speeches at the Council for Great City Schools and the Council of Chief State School Officers on March 20, 2023.
Sam Mallon/Education Week
States Should Superintendent Salaries Be Capped? Some States Are Considering It
Superintendent pay is under constant scrutiny, and proposals come up occasionally to cap it. But they rarely gain traction.
6 min read
Photo of dollar bills frozen in ice.
iStock / Getty Images Plus