Library
Reports: Post-secondary education
What Does It Really Mean to Be College and Work Ready? The Mathematics and English Literacy Required of First Year Community College Students
National Center on Education and the Economy, May 2013, 24 pp.
A study of the English and math required for success in the first year of community college. more info >
Eduployment: Creating Opportunity Policies for America's Youth
Youth Transition Funders Group, April 2013, 16 pp.
This paper introduces the concept of "eduployment," a term recognizing learning and work are inextricably linked and opportunity policies for youth must prepare young people for postsecondary success, rather than the outmoded college or career. more info >
Minnesota Measures: Report on higher education performance
Minnesota Office of Higher Education, February 2013, 74 pp.
Annual report that provides facts about higher education in Minnesota. Includes data on preparing for and entering college, during college, and outcomes of college. more info >
In North Dakota graduation pays: Linking student success in high school to economic prosperity
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, January 2013, 6 pp.
A quick look at the importance of high school and postsecondary education in North Dakota. Presents the need for an educated workforce. more info >
MHEC annual state reports
Midwest Higher Education Compact, January 2013, 52 pp.
Annual report including performance indicators for postsecondary education in Minnesota, North Dakota, and other midwestern states. Includes data on rates of enrollment, degree completion, and state investments in postsecondary education. Look for "MHEC Annual State Reports" in list of publications. more info >
Higher education partnerships for prosperity
Itasca Project, July 2012, 32 pp.
The Itasca Higher Education Task Force brought together leaders from Minnesota’s higher education institutions and business community to identify strategies to build upon the strengths of our educational system and meet the challenges ahead, forming a four-part strategic vision for higher education in collaboration with businesses outlined in this report. more info >
Improving college readiness: Perspectives for research, policy, and practice
Midwestern Higher Education Compact, June 2012, 60 pp.
Presents information on the core dimensions of college readiness: academic preparation, financial literacy, and non-cognitive variables. Information was compiled from the proceedings of a policy summit and a scan of research. more info >
Advancing student success in the California community colleges
California Community Colleges Student Success Task Force, January 2012, 77 pp.
An example of a plan to advance student success in community colleges. Recommendations address college and career readiness, support for entering students, incentivizing successful student behaviors, course offerings, basic skills students, professional development, and leadership and coordination among colleges. more info >
Turning the tide: Five years of achieving the dream in community colleges
MDRC, Community College Reseach Center, January 2011, 210 pp.
“Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count,” is a national initiative aimed at improving success among community college students, particularly low-income students and students of color. This report examines the first 26 colleges to join Achieving the Dream in 2004 and tracks their progress through spring 2009. more info >
Getting prepared: A 2010 report on recent high school graduates who took developmental/remedial courses
Minnesota State Colleges & Universities; University of Minnesota, January 2011, 56 pp.
Reports data on recent public high school graduates who take developmental (or remedial) courses in Minnesota's two public university systems, as one measure of the state’s performance in preparing K-12 students for college. more info >
Change in income by education level, by race in Minnesota
The Minnesota Private College Council, Fund and Research Foundation, July 2010, 11 pp.
This brief examines income in Minnesota by race/ethnicity for each level of education attained, and illustrates income premiums for each level of education over a high school credential. It also compares income by age for each level of education, to show earning power over time. more info >
Help wanted: Projections of jobs and education requirements through 2018
Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, June 2010, 122 pp.
Provides detailed national forecasts of educational demand from 2008 through 2018, including educational demand by education level, occupation, and industry. Minnesota is ranked among the top five states that will lead the nation in job openings requiring postsecondary education. more info >
The ACCESS system: Achieving college and career-readiness for every student's success: A proposal for a new high school assessment and accountability system for Minnesota
College and Career-Ready Policy Institute Assessment Working Group, March 2010, 33 pp.
Report from a task force charged with developing a recommendation for a new high school assessment and accountability system for Minnesota. Looks at research on the consequences of high-stakes graduation policies and presents a detailed look at the proposed system. more info >
U.S. economic and social trends since 2000
Population Reference Bureau, February 2010, 20 pp.
Presents social and economic data from the American Community Survey. more info >
Revving the education engine: Effectively aligning education, workforce and economic development policy
Education commission of the States, December 2009, 24 pp.
Alignment is intended to make sure that investments in education support state and regional economic and workforce goals. This report explains the need for alignment, outlines key strategies for achieving it, and discusses implementation. Includes promising practices and model policies that help students finish postsecondary training and enter the workforce. more info >
Strengthening community colleges' influence on economic mobility
Economic Mobility Project, October 2009, 43 pp.
This paper examines the role community colleges play in enhancing the upward mobility of their students. The study looks at the various pathways through which students can increase their earnings, including transferring to a four-year college and completing an associate degree or certificate in a range of high-return fields. more info >
Educating Minnesota's immigrant students
Citizens League, February 2009, 44 pp.
This report represents the work of the Study Committee on Immigration and Higher Education. It includes findings and recommendations on how Minnesota can increase immigrant student readiness and success in higher education. more info >
The lost decade: Taking a closer look at Minnesota's public investments in the 2000s
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, December 2008, 36 pp.
This report looks at the status of Minnesota's investments in four areas of the budget that significantly impact the well-being of Minnesota families and are important for ensuring that all Minnesotans have the opportunity to succeed: early childhood through grade 12 education, higher education, child care assistance, and affordable housing and homelessness prevention. more info >
Smart investments in Minnesota's students: A research-based investment proposal
Growth & Justice, October 2008, 32 pp.
Shows how to apply what is known about cost-effective investments in education to address a looming shortage of educated workers that could undermine the state’s economic well being. more info >
Enrollment patterns of students from low-income families
Minnesota Office of Higher Education, October 2008, 50 pp.
Provides information about recent trends and practices for meeting the needs of postsecondary students in Minnesota who are from low-income families. The report includes data on enrollment, persistence, and degree attainment, tuition and financial aid, programs available from public and private institutions, and identifies areas for further study. more info >
Reach higher, America: Overcoming crisis in the U.S. workforce
National Commission on Adult Literacy, June 2008, 76 pp.
Although the American economy increasingly requires that most workers have some postsecondary education or occupational training to be ready for employment, the country is moving further away from that goal. A significant number of adults face educational barriers that mean they will fall behind in their struggle to get higher wage jobs or qualify for college or job training. This report offers an analysis and recommendations on ways to increase the competitiveness of the American workforce. more info >
Overcoming obstacles,optimizing opportunities: State policies to increase postsecondary attainment for low-skilled adults
Cetner for Law and Social Policy, March 2008, 24 pp.
This paper provides an overview of state policies that are successful in helping lower-skilled adults enter and succeed in college and careers. It introduces a series of state policy reports developed as part of Breaking Through, a national project that helps community colleges identify and develop institutional strategies that enable low-skilled adult students to enter into and succeed in occupational and technical degree programs. more info >
College access for the working poor: overcoming burdens to succeed in higher education
Institute for Higher Education Policy, July 2007
Individuals from working poor families enroll in college at lower rates and are less likely to complete college. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the higher education experiences, financial challenges, and attendance and completion rates of the working poor. more info >
Strategies for improving success in postsecondary education
The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, January 2007, 38 pp.
This report explores ways in which states can improve the chances of students succeeding in postsecondary education, considering factors such as equity gaps, funding and policy priorities, and implementation strategies. more info >
Effectiveness of programs to improve postsecondary education enrollment and success of underrepresented youth
Wilder Research, November 2006, 31 pp.
A literature review of the effectiveness of outreach programs to improve postsecondary education enrollment and success of underrepresented youth. more info >
College access matters: The opportunity for college access programs in Minnesota
Minnesota College Access Network, January 2006, 72 pp.
This report provides information on Minnesota's college access programs. It includes the results of a survey of existing programs, highlighting current practices and identifying gaps in college access services, as well as recommendations for investments to develop and strengthen college access programs. more info >
A New vision for Saint Paul schools: Preparing all students for success in higher education
Citizens League, April 2005, 32 pp.
A Citizens League Study Committee was convened to explore issues related to access and success in higher education for Saint Paul Public Schools students. This report includes a discussion of the importance of higher education; a look at some statistics on graduation rates, postsecondary enrollment rates, and the achievement gap; and the committee's recommendations. more info >
Closing the college participation gap: Minnesota and United States profiles
Education Commission of the States, March 2003, 7 pp.
Profiles of postsecondary participation in Minnesota and the United States. more info >
Web sites
Education Commission of the States
Educational information covering early learning, K-12, and postsecondary. The issue sites include summaries of the facts, what states are doing, programs and practice, and sources of additional information on topics such as school readiness, assessment, at-risk students, charter schools, child abuse, educational attainment, mentoring, teaching, and many more. more info >
The Educator's reference desk
Resources on all aspects of education. more info >
ERIC database (Education Resources Information Center)
Database of education research. more info >
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
Data on post-secondary education. more info >
Jobs for the future
Research on the educational and economic advancement of youth and adults. more info >
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