Utah has made noteworthy progress in increasing the number of working-age adults who hold a degree or credential beyond high school.
Credentials are official documents to verify someone's qualifications or competency in a given skill. According to the Lumina Foundation's latest Stronger Nation report, the Beehive State's attainment rate sits at nearly 62%, well above the national average. But the foundation said there is still work to be done.
Teresa Lubbers, president of the Indiana-based think tank the Sagamore Institute, argued building consensus from the public, private and philanthropic sectors can lead to higher attainment in the future.
"Not all credentials or all degrees are the same," Lubbers pointed out. "I don't think that the salary alone can be the measure because some important jobs don't have the pay we think they should have, but economic mobility is an important way to measure it and all degrees and credentials should ensure economic mobility and meet workforce needs."
Lubbers emphasized there is a direct correlation between postsecondary education and having a good-paying job. Post-high school attainment has increased 17 percentage points since 2009 in the United States. It currently sits at nearly 55%. Lumina Foundation recognizes it is progress but it is not enough to meet their 60% attainment nationwide goal by the end of this year.
Lumina Foundation said the ability to count short-term workforce-aligned credentials, such as certificate programs and industry recognized certifications, have contributed to the nation's overall progress in the last 10-15 years. They said the credentials help bridge skills gaps and offer opportunities for career advancement.
Lubbers added it is important for Utahns to understand their economic security depends on having valuable credentials.
"We have shifted thinking to a learner-based system of higher education, that is 'future-focused,' workforce aligned, and then we come up with the strategies that will do that," Lubbers outlined. "I'm a big believer in strategic plans for higher education in states."
While raising educational attainment numbers is important, ensuring equal opportunities for all is crucial as well. Despite Black, Hispanic and Native American and Alaska Native adults having seen improvements over the last 15 years, Lubbers stressed more should be done to ensure they do not continue to lag behind white and Asian adults.
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A South Dakota House committee takes up a controversial bill today that would require all school districts in the state to display the Ten Commandments in each classroom.
The bill, which narrowly cleared the Senate last week, also contains provisions that would require the Ten Commandments be taught in civics classes.
Opponents say the mandate crosses the line when it comes to separation of church and state. In the recent debate, state Sen. Stephanie Sauder, R-Bryant, a former teacher, said her biggest issue was the loss of local control.
"This bill, which will remove the school's freedom of choice to decide what's best for their students and their district," said Sauder, "and it'll also take away a parent's freedom to challenge the decision."
Sauder voted against the measure, which ended up passing in the Senate by a single vote. Backers of the bill say it's an important part of learning U.S. history, but opponents such as Sauder say current teaching already makes mention of the commandments when covering various religions.
Louisiana recently became the first state to adopt this requirement, but it's being challenged in court. Opponents in South Dakota warn of similar litigation here, if this bill crosses the finish line. But supporters such as state Sen. Sue Peterson, R-Sioux Falls, suggest the concerns about the words being on display are overblown.
"'Thou shall not steal.' 'Thou shall not kill' - I don't think that hurts anything," Peterson said. "In fact, I think it's helpful."
But other lawmakers, who say they adhere to the same guiding principles, question whether this mandate would solve any broader issue. Beyond Louisiana and the South Dakota proposal, a handful of other conservative states are considering similar measures, most notably Texas.
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The rate of U.S. high school seniors seeking higher education is on the upswing, according to research from Lumina Foundation.
Although Hoosier student rates are improving, the numbers show they still rank behind national figures. The report, called "A Stronger Nation," showed nearly 55% of American adults aged 25-64 have a college degree or industry-recognized certification. Indiana's attainment rate is almost 54%, six points shy of the 2025 goal for the state.
Teresa Lubbers, a Lumina Foundation board member and president of the Sagamore Institute, an Indianapolis-based think tank focusing on social impact issues, said the study was done with a sense of urgency.
"I think that having the 60% goal was the rallying call for us, not just as a number but why that number was directly tied to the needs of the workforce," Lubbers explained. "If someone was going to have prosperity in their life and Indiana's economy was going to be strong, this was an imperative, not a choice."
The report specified a post-high school education as an associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree or college-level or industry-recognized certificate. The report noted 60 % of adults in the United States will need a post-high school credential showing completion in training and a demonstrated competency in an employable skill. Indiana's short-term credential achievement rate is slightly under 12%.
Data classified by race and ethnicity shows progress across the board. Among Black students, 42% either have an associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree while 44% of white students, 28% of Hispanic students, and 63% of Asian students have obtained the degrees.
Lubbers touted the importance of compiling the study.
"Whether it's college readiness, college completion, dual credit, return on investment, the number of credentials and certificates, all of those things roll up to make the case for what we're doing and what's working," Lubbers added.
Graduation level gaps are closing, Lubbers noted, thanks to the 21st Century Scholars Program which provides eligible, low-income students with a full ride scholarship to a participating Indiana college or university. Report recommendations for reaching state goals are to maintain the current achievement figures and to boost enrollment numbers in credential-based institutions.
Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.
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West Virginia's innovative programs and a boost in state financial aid have made it possible for more people to earn a college degree or get a credential that shows they've achieved competency in a specific field.
The latest data from Lumina Foundation show more than 44% of adults in the Mountain State have attained some level of education after high school.
West Virginia Invest, the state's free community college program, and Level Up, which offers dual enrollment for high schoolers, are driving the increase, said Sarah Tucker, chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. She said dual enrollment can help keep young students on the right track "by enrolling them in dual-enrollment courses in high school that are tailored to the major that they are interested in when they go on to college."
According to the report, in 2023, nearly 10% of West Virginians held an associate degree and around 13% held a bachelor's degree.
Tucker said the state has also worked to increase FAFSA participation - the form families fill out to get financial aid for college. She noted that last year, the commission staff completed more than 200 FAFSA workshops at high schools, even when the program temporarily shut down.
"We doubled our needs-based aid program," she said, "so that our neediest students would be able to go to college and wouldn't be left sitting home, which was my biggest fear."
Affordability is another factor. In West Virginia, Tucker said, 60% of community college students graduate with no student debt to repay.
"What we have seen in the past several years, through keeping our tuition low and this investment by the state," she said, "is that we have really increased the number of our students who don't have any loans."
Nationwide, nearly 55% of people have a postsecondary degree or credential, and around 47% hold a bachelor's degree.
Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.
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