It is often thought that college undergraduates are young, recent high school graduates. Overall, this is the norm -- last year, roughly 70 percent of undergraduates eligible for the State Grant were dependent students, meaning they were dependent on a parent for financial support. However, nearly 30 percent of undergraduates who were eligible for…

In the upcoming reconciliation bill, the U.S. Congress is urged to address the substantial decline in college enrollment resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic by: (1) expanding access to dual enrollment programs as part of free community college packages; and (2) expanding and investing in activities to support students' transition from high school…

The Pathways for Academic Career and Employment (PACE) program is established to provide funding to community colleges for the development of programs that will lead to gainful, quality, in-state employment for members of target populations by providing them with both effective academic training to ensure gainful employment and customized support…

Universities across the United States are grappling with both funding and enrollment pressures and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Decreasing state funding coupled with lower birth rates of the recent past (Grawe, 2018) are forcing colleges and universities to rethink enrollment and retention strategies. Amid the push to…

Education Commission of the States has researched Advanced Placement (AP) policies in all states to provide this comprehensive, interactive resource. It provides links to the 50-state comparisons showing how all states approach specific AP policies. A specific state's approach can be viewed by going to the individual state profile page. Key…

Sometimes what colleges and universities must do to generate revenue is consistent with their academic goals. But often they must choose one over the other. The financial transaction that produces most educational revenue in the United States is "cash-for-credits." Many states allocate their own funding by the credit hour as well,…

Due to extensive research, we now know that in spite of extraordinary success in expanding access to American higher education over the last 60 years, far too little has been done to ensure that students complete college, even when they take 50 percent more time to complete the degree than full-time attendance should require. Obstacles to success…

This report, released by Education Reform Now and the Alliance for Excellent Education, finds that the "12" in K-12 education may be unnecessary for nearly a quarter of high school students. The report introduces two accelerated pathways for college-ready juniors that would provide meaningful access to full-time, college-level…

Dual credit courses offer high school students the opportunity to earn both high school and college credits in the same course. Indiana law requires each Indiana high school to offer a minimum of two dual credit courses (as well as two Advanced Placement (AP) courses) to expand opportunities for qualifying students to gain college-level experience…

More New Yorkers than ever are enrolling in universities and community colleges, driven by seismic changes in the economy that have made postsecondary credentials nearly indispensable for today's workforce. On college campuses across the state, the makeup of the student body has changed. College is no longer just for "traditional"…

The Texas Education Agency's (TEA's) 2017 Annual Report is intended to shine light on the agency's commitment to ensuring that every one of the more than five million public school students in Texas is prepared for success in college, a career or the military. In Texas public schools: (1) Graduation rates are at an all-time high and put Texas in…

It took five years, dozens of drafts, and a total of 14 extensions, but Congress last week was finally on the verge of passing a bill to renew the Higher Education Act, the major law governing federal student aid. The bill, after approval by the U.S. House of Representatives, was headed to the Senate, where a final vote was planned for late last…

With a bachelor's degree fast becoming the standard requirement for achieving success in the modern economy, college enrollment is increasing rapidly nationwide. State funding for colleges and universities continues to subsidize the cost of educating state residents, but spiraling expenditures in other areas are straining the ability of states to…

The status of the New York State Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS) program for 1987 is presented. APTS is a campus-based aid program that provides an annual award of up to $2,000 to part-time undergraduates matriculated in approved degree or credit-bearing certificate and diploma programs. It is suggested that the ATPS program is underutilized both…

An important element of academic planning and program administration is determining whether a course is to be offered for credit. Changes in the ground rules for the credit versus noncredit decision-making process within the California community college system are discussed. (MLW)