Affordability is one of the primary reasons middle and high school students simply can't see themselves enrolling in college. Here's what leaders need to know.
More than half of the graduating class of 2023 is opting out of the traditional four-year college education, according to a survey released Tuesday. While these numbers are no cause for alarm, leaders should be concerned that nearly one-third of the graduates were not aware of the career and technical education programs that would have given them alternative paths.
Faced with rising enrollment, our rural district reconfigured electives as career and technical education pathways that put students on track for jobs in lucrative fields like computer science.
Dr. Mark Penny, superintendent of Lincoln County R-III in Troy, Missouri, believes every student can find success in public education, no matter their circumstance.
"Gender stereotypes play a strong role in both educational and career awareness and preparedness," states YouScience's Student Ability report. "Our analysis shows that biases still exist and need to be addressed in order to turn the corner on the exposure and skills gap challenges."
Instead of trying to shield students from social media in schools, district leaders should leverage the technology to drive engagement in STEAM, educators say.
