U.S. Must Ensure 55 Percent of Americans Earn Postsecondary Degree by 2025 or Risk World Standing: College Board Report

Education Leaders Propose Ambitious 10-Step Agenda to Renew U.S. Educational Preeminence

The United States must take immediate action to reverse its fall from the top ranks of countries with a college-educated workforce. If postsecondary success is not made a national priority, our country’s economic and social health will continue to weaken. This is the pressing message delivered today on Capitol Hill by a College Board commission of influential leaders focusing for the first time on the entire pre-K through college pipeline. The national commission recommends a specific 10-part action agenda to reverse the current trend and promises annual evaluations to track success.

Completed by the College Board’s Commission on Access, Admissions and Success in Higher Education, “Coming to Our Senses: Education and the American Future” notes the alarming decline of U.S. educational attainment among 25 to 34-year-olds.  It also details how the country can regain its competitive edge.

The report provides recommendations to strengthen our education system across the P-20 pipeline, increase the number of students earning postsecondary degrees or certificates and regain our global competitive edge for the 21st century.
The 28-member commission is a nationally representative group of college presidents, university chancellors, admissions and enrollment deans, school counselors, administrators and other education experts who examined demographic, socioeconomic, public policy and education trends that affect college access and success. They recommend actions to address specific areas of weakness while building a renewed education system that will increase current college completion rates and drive the United States toward reclaiming its position as a global leader.

“In the last 20 years, we have lost critical ground in this country. We once put our faith in creating an educated citizenry, and we have enjoyed the benefits. A nation’s success lies largely on the quality of its human resources. Without well-educated citizens, we will struggle economically and socially,” said Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board. “The action agenda outlined in the report calls on all of us to do our part. We must regain our drive to excel and take the actions necessary to get us back on track as a nation.”

The report documents that after having led the world in high school completion rates throughout the 20th century, the United States ranked 21st out of 27 advanced economies. College completion rates have followed a similar pattern: once second in the world for younger workers (ages 25 to 34), the United States now ranks 11th. Additionally, dropout rates for high school students (grades nine through 12) have tripled in the last 30 years.

“The effect of diminished access to postsecondary education has a devastating effect on the lives of individuals seeking advancement and on our collective hopes for advancing our society’s interests and welfare,” said Kirwan.
The targeted recommendations in the report aim to bolster the entire education system, focusing on the need for quality preschool programs, improved middle and high school counseling, stronger dropout prevention programs, progressive teacher recruitment and retention programs, and a more streamlined college admissions process. The agenda also emphasizes the importance of aligning the K-12 system with international standards and college admissions and expectations. Finally, it addresses the college and postsecondary climate with items that specifically tackle college affordability, matriculation and postsecondary opportunities.

For more information, please see the commission Web site at www.collegeboard.com/comingtooursenses.

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