Report Finds California Has Slipped Into Educational and Economic Mediocrity
Education Desk
January 13, 2009
California Ranks 49th out of 50 states in the number of its adult population with at least a high school diploma. The State has fallen from 5th to 47th in the number of its high school graduates that go on to college. Given California's reduction in higher education funding - which is 40% lower today than it was in 1980 - it is no surprise that California has slipped into "Educational and Economic Mediocrity."
Los Angeles, CA - A new report released by the California Faculty Association reveals that not only is California no longer the leader in terms of education and economic prosperity for the country, but that the State has slipped into "educational and economic mediocrity." The report, "California at the Edge of a Cliff: The Failure to Invest in Public Higher Education is Crushing the Economy and Crippling Our Kids Future," raises even more questions about Governor Schwarzenegger's plans to further slash public higher education funding from the budget, which will prevent thousands of students from admission to college and destroying their American Dream.
California Faculty Association President Lillian Taiz stated, "Those of us who spend our time in the classroom and on campus know full well what millions of dollars in budget cuts mean for the future of California. Fewer kids are going to be admitted to schools and fewer kids are going to be qualified for the jobs that today's economy has to offer. It is hypocritical for the Governor to utter the words 'we need job creation' out of one side of his mouth while he cuts higher education funding from the other side of his mouth because you can't create jobs when you are cutting the very institution that educates people to do those jobs."
According to the report, California currently ranks 49th out of 50 states in the number of its adult population with at least a high school diploma and the State has fallen from 5th to 47th in the number of high school graduates that go on to college. In today's global economy, prosperity is no longer driven by physical strength, but by the brains of college educated workers and the industries that employ them. We've left the Industrial Age for the High Tech Age driven by research and development and creativity. Success in today's "Human Capital Economy" will depend on the higher educational attainment of the workforce.
Historically, California has been a leader in terms of higher education attainment and investment in public higher education. The report's findings though find that California is now slipping toward educational and economic mediocrity as a direct result of the State's massive reduction in higher education funding. Over the years, California has substantially reduced its investment in higher education and today ranks 21st among states, down from 11th in 1980 (a 40% drop in funding). For Example:
>> Per capita personal income in California has dropped from 142% in of the US average in 1929 to 108% of average in 2007.
>> In 1983, California ranked first among large states for adult population with at least a high school diploma but in 2006 dropped to 49th among all states.
>> The college continuation rate for high school graduates dropped 22% since 1996 and California's ranking on this measure dropped from 5th to 47th among states.
>> The percentage of Californians age 25+ with college degrees is growing but not fast enough. CA's ranking among states has fallen since 1989 from 8th in the nation to 14th.
>> For college participation by age 19, California ranked 46th in 2004, down from 17th in 1996.
>> For college participation by students from low-income families, California ranked 31st in 2006, down from 23rd ten years ago.
Taiz added, "We are facing the worst economic downturn since the great depression. At the same time precious taxpayer dollars are being wasted to preserve bankers' opulent lifestyles while some leaders claim they can't find the resources that we all know leads to more jobs and a stronger economy. It is time for leadership in Sacramento and Washington to acknowledge that education is not the problem here, but that it is the solution for digging ourselves out of this crisis. We need a commitment to education from our elected officials."
The author of the report, Tom Mortenson, who is a senior scholar at The Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Education added, "Today's economy is a Human Capital Economy, meaning that brains and innovation is rewarded over brawn and strength. If California continues to cut off higher education funding, California kids will have no chance in today's global economy. On top of that, it will be very difficult to reverse the downward slide that California currently finds itself in if it doesn't start now, which is not a good sign for economic prosperity for California. If California wants growth and prosperity in its future, it must understand that it can only be achieved through substantial, persistent and focused state investment and that commitment must begin now."
Los Angeles, CA - A new report released by the California Faculty Association reveals that not only is California no longer the leader in terms of education and economic prosperity for the country, but that the State has slipped into "educational and economic mediocrity." The report, "California at the Edge of a Cliff: The Failure to Invest in Public Higher Education is Crushing the Economy and Crippling Our Kids Future," raises even more questions about Governor Schwarzenegger's plans to further slash public higher education funding from the budget, which will prevent thousands of students from admission to college and destroying their American Dream.
California Faculty Association President Lillian Taiz stated, "Those of us who spend our time in the classroom and on campus know full well what millions of dollars in budget cuts mean for the future of California. Fewer kids are going to be admitted to schools and fewer kids are going to be qualified for the jobs that today's economy has to offer. It is hypocritical for the Governor to utter the words 'we need job creation' out of one side of his mouth while he cuts higher education funding from the other side of his mouth because you can't create jobs when you are cutting the very institution that educates people to do those jobs."
According to the report, California currently ranks 49th out of 50 states in the number of its adult population with at least a high school diploma and the State has fallen from 5th to 47th in the number of high school graduates that go on to college. In today's global economy, prosperity is no longer driven by physical strength, but by the brains of college educated workers and the industries that employ them. We've left the Industrial Age for the High Tech Age driven by research and development and creativity. Success in today's "Human Capital Economy" will depend on the higher educational attainment of the workforce.
Historically, California has been a leader in terms of higher education attainment and investment in public higher education. The report's findings though find that California is now slipping toward educational and economic mediocrity as a direct result of the State's massive reduction in higher education funding. Over the years, California has substantially reduced its investment in higher education and today ranks 21st among states, down from 11th in 1980 (a 40% drop in funding). For Example:
>> Per capita personal income in California has dropped from 142% in of the US average in 1929 to 108% of average in 2007.
>> In 1983, California ranked first among large states for adult population with at least a high school diploma but in 2006 dropped to 49th among all states.
>> The college continuation rate for high school graduates dropped 22% since 1996 and California's ranking on this measure dropped from 5th to 47th among states.
>> The percentage of Californians age 25+ with college degrees is growing but not fast enough. CA's ranking among states has fallen since 1989 from 8th in the nation to 14th.
>> For college participation by age 19, California ranked 46th in 2004, down from 17th in 1996.
>> For college participation by students from low-income families, California ranked 31st in 2006, down from 23rd ten years ago.
Taiz added, "We are facing the worst economic downturn since the great depression. At the same time precious taxpayer dollars are being wasted to preserve bankers' opulent lifestyles while some leaders claim they can't find the resources that we all know leads to more jobs and a stronger economy. It is time for leadership in Sacramento and Washington to acknowledge that education is not the problem here, but that it is the solution for digging ourselves out of this crisis. We need a commitment to education from our elected officials."
The author of the report, Tom Mortenson, who is a senior scholar at The Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Education added, "Today's economy is a Human Capital Economy, meaning that brains and innovation is rewarded over brawn and strength. If California continues to cut off higher education funding, California kids will have no chance in today's global economy. On top of that, it will be very difficult to reverse the downward slide that California currently finds itself in if it doesn't start now, which is not a good sign for economic prosperity for California. If California wants growth and prosperity in its future, it must understand that it can only be achieved through substantial, persistent and focused state investment and that commitment must begin now."