According to a recent study by the nonpartisan National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education in San Jose, California, the state where you grew up and in which you live is paramount to your prospects for education past the high school level, followed by family resources, race and ethnicity. In the study, states were not ranked but given grades in five areas: preparing school children for college; participation of residents ages 18 to 44 in college or other training; affordability of college; how promptly college students finish degrees; economic and social benefits to the state as a result of its residents' levels of education.

"I would consider this a wake-up call," said TC Professor Henry Levin, head of the The National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education. States should check out where they didn't score well, "and I would ask what is happening in a state that has high ratings. Is there something we could learn from that?"

The article, entitled "Study Says Education Past High School Depends Largely on Home State" appeared in the November 30th edition of CNN.com.

When possible, the News Bureau provides a link to article summaries, a link is always provided to the online source. Not all online sources archive information and some charge a fee for older material.

Published Tuesday, Sep. 18, 2001