Connecting Research about Access to Higher Education to Practice. An Introductory Guide for Educators

The trends are clear--a high school education is no longer adequate to prepare young people for the rapidly changing information economy of the 21st century. According to the U.S. Department of Labor (2009), approximately 65 percent of the fastest growing jobs today require at least some form of postsecondary education. If the United States is to remain economically competitive, more students must complete a postsecondary degree. Currently, however, the United States has a smaller percentage of young adults who enter college and graduate with a postsecondary degree than many other developed nations. Although college attendance rates have increased slightly, significant gaps in enrollment between low-income and minority students and their more affluent, white peers persist. This Connecting Research to Practice Policy Brief outlines the barriers to higher education for students and then provides policymakers and practitioners with research-based policy options, examples of best practice, and resources that can help all students increase their access to higher education. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)