One of the best predictors of long-term prosperity and growth for our region is educational attainment. An education that ends in high school is no longer enough.
College brings higher pay: $1,053 a week for the median bachelor's degree holder last year, versus $638 for a high school graduate with no college, says the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Last year's unemployment rate was 4.9% for college grads versus 9.4% for those with no college (Wall Street Journal – 5/4/2012).
As a community, it is imperative that we raise the expectations of our young people and send them clear, consistent messages about educational achievement after high school graduation. But that won’t be easy, especially in predominantly poor or blue-collar communities where college, or more broadly, post-secondary education, has not been the norm. How do we help parents who didn't go beyond high school graduation understand why it matters and how to support their children? What kind of school and community supports are necessary to help kids prepare for post-secondary education - beginning at birth and extending through the time they're on campus? And, what pieces of the “solution puzzle” are present in Greater Cleveland and what do we need to develop, import or invent?
These are just some of the questions we will use to stimulate a community dialogue about how to create a CULTURE OF COLLEGE in Northeast Ohio.
Sandra Pianalto, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland will give a key-note address on why increasing educational achievement is so critical to our regional economy and why doing so is everyone’s responsibility. The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion involving key stakeholders in our region. Questions will be taken from the studio audience and from people watching a live web-stream of the event on ideastream.org and cleveland.com. Joe Frolik, Chief Editorial Writer at The Plain Dealer will serve as moderator.
Watch
Cleveland Connects: Culture of College
Feagler and Friends: Creating the Culture of College
Statistics show a typical high school freshman in Cleveland has a 50-50 chance of graduating high school and less than 10% will go on to graduate college. College attainment rates are alarmingly low all over Northeast Ohio despite the certainly that college grads have much greater earning power than those who did not. Concerted efforts are underway in the region to convince potential students to make college a part of their life plans. Two local educators - Thomas V. Chema, president, Hiram College; Lee Friedman, CEO, College Now Greater Cleveland - talk with Mr. Feagler about their efforts in this regard.
Listen
The Sound of Ideas: College for More; Skills for All
When a greater percentage of people in a region attain a college degree, the region grows and prospers. People who earn college degrees generally make more money than those who don't and are less likely to be unemployed. On this episode of the Sound of Ideas, we'll add to the ongoing community-wide discussion about creating a college-going culture here and throughout the state. And we'll talk about how to match what's taught to the skills employers need.
Read
Greater Cleveland's future requires a college-going culture - a column by Joe Frolik published in the Plain Dealer on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Dr. Roy A. Church, President of Lorain County Community College
Dr. Church is recognized for leadership in creating innovative models to make higher education more accessible and affordable. He builds collaborative initiatives to enhance workforce education, economic development and entrepreneurial activity in Northeast Ohio.
Dr. Michele Scott Taylor, Chief Program Officer at College Now Greater Cleveland
Dr. Scott Taylor provides strategic leadership for the organization’s programmatic efforts. She has spent most of her professional career in higher education administration in a myriad of student and academic affairs roles.
Victor A. Ruiz, Executive Director of Esperanza, Inc.
The mission of Esperanza is to improve the academic achievement of Hispanics in Greater Cleveland by supporting students to graduate high school and promoting post-secondary educational attainment.
Monyka A. Price, Chief of Education, City of Cleveland
Ms. Price brings a combination of both education and business expertise to being Mayor Jackson’s chief educational policy advisor. Before assuming the role as Chief of Education, Price served as the Principal of Citizens’ Academy, a free, public, Kindergarten through fifth grade charter school, with approximately 400 students. Citizens' Academy is recognized as an exemplary Ohio School of Promise. Additionally, Price taught in Cleveland elementary schools.