A Test of Leadership: Charting the Future of US Higher Education
The Commission on the Future of Higher Education convened by Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings recently released its final report examining national issues of college access, affordability, quality, and accountability. Pathways to College Network Director and TERI Senior Vice President Ann Coles provided testimony to the Commission at its December 2005 meeting and is quoted within the report. For a copy, visit www.edpubs.org or call 1-877-3-ED-PUBS.

Good Reads: New Reports & Websites

Promise Abandoned:
How Policy Choices and Institutional Practices Restrict College Opportunities
This report by Kati Haycock of the Education Trust analyzes trends in federal, state, and college practices that are shifting scarce financial aid resources from low-income students to students from more affluent families. The report provides examples of what actions can be taken to increase minority and low-income student success, and calls on Congress to try to reduce graduation rate gaps in half over the next five year. [read the report]

Measuring Up 2006
Measuring Up 2006 consists of a national report card for higher education and 50 state report cards. Its purpose is to provide the public and policymakers with the information to assess and improve postsecondary education. The state report cards compare data on college preparation, participation, affordability, completion, and benefits. The 2006 report also provides international comparisons for both the nation and states. [visit the site]

From High School to the Future: A First Look at Chicago Public School Graduates' College Enrollment, College Preparation, and Graduation from Four-Year Colleges
For Chicago Public School graduates, grades are a more important predictor of college enrollment and graduation than college entrance test scores, according to a study from the Consortium on Chicago School Research at the University of Chicago. The study also found substantial differences by college in graduation rates among highly qualified Chicago Public School graduates. This study is the first in the country to track the college success of individual graduates of a major urban school system. [read the study]

Paying Double: Inadequate High Schools and Community College Remediation
According to this issue brief from the Alliance for Excellent Education, the US spends more than $1.4 billion annually to provide community college remediation to recent high school graduates. The nation also loses almost $2.3 billion annually due to the reduced earnings potential of these students, as their need for remedial reading makes them more likely to drop out of college. The brief includes a breakdown of state-by-state costs. [read the brief]

Website Links Students to State College Access Resources
The new Going2college.org website features state-by-state information for students about college planning, financial aid, and career planning. Visitors can click on their state to learn where to obtain help with completing the FAFSA, what types of federal and state financial aid are available, and where to find college resource centers and college information events. The site, developed by the National Council for Higher Education Loan Programs, in conjunction with Mapping Your Future, utilizes the National College Access Program Directory to provide visitors with state-specific listings of early awareness and outreach programs.