Fewer Than Half of States Have Measurable Educational Goals for College Improvement

Mike P sent qualityg an Email today with some eye opening information about:

Improving higher education is a top priority in almost every state, but fewer than half of states have set specific, measurable goals to tracktheir progress in enrolling, retaining and graduating students. Accordingto a new report from Jobs for the Future, "By the Numbers: State Goals forIncreasing Postsecondary Attainment," just 23 of the 50 states have set atleast one numerical goal for increasing the number of students who enrollin college, stay in college, and graduate with a college degree. Only 10 have set numerical goals for all three. And only 11 have set even one goalrelated to improving the success rate among minority students. The full report, including state-by-state data, is available free at http://www.jff.org/jff/PDFDocuments/BytheNumbers.pdf

If you don't have time to read the whole report please read the executive summary and take a look at your own state's individual goals that are detailed within the report. Pass it on to other parents and educators, If you care.

qualityg says ... I have reviewed this report and I'm not happy to report that I am not impressed. Many of the states that do have numerical goals are weak.

Back in August of last year (2005) I wrote two posts (there are more) on this same subject. One was about State Colleges Higher Education plans and goals and one was about Michigan's High schools challenging their plans with no concrete goals.

State Colleges of Michigan your dogma is do-do

State of Michigan School Board of Education - show me some numbers

Thanks to Mike P for sharing.