News
PBS NewsHour – October 14, 2024 (08:37)
Students in rural communities graduate from high school above the national average. But when it comes to applying to college or getting their degree, those students’ rates of attendance and completion are well below their peers in urban and suburban areas. A New Mexico initiative is helping to narrow that gap. Stephanie Sy reports for our series, Rethinking College.
Rural students face unique challenges when pursuing higher education. Despite making up a significant portion of the country’s K-12 population — one-third of schools are designated as rural — these students are far less likely to enroll in college compared to their urban and suburban peers.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, only 29% of rural residents aged 18 to 24 are enrolled in higher education, a stark contrast to the 48% and 42% of those from urban and suburban areas, respectively, in the same age group. This disparity has been attributed to several factors, including geographic isolation, limited access to college-preparatory resources, and financial constraints.
A key issue these students face is the lack of nearby postsecondary institutions. The American Council on Education (ACE) reports that 13 million Americans live in “education deserts,” areas where no colleges or universities are within a reasonable commuting distance. This geographic barrier can make attending college a less viable option, particularly when coupled with the high costs associated with relocation or long-distance travel to campus.
There are many issues related to Education that Congress is looking to address with legislation. In the ‘About’ section of this post is an overview of the issues and potential solutions, party positions, and web links. Other sections have information on relevant committees, chairs, & caucuses; departments & agencies; and the judiciary, nonpartisan & partisan organizations, and a wikipedia entry.
The Education category has related posts and three posts on issues of particular focus: Apprenticeships, STEM Learning, and AI in Education.
To participate in ongoing forums, ask the post’s curators questions, and make suggestions, go to the ‘Discuss’ section at the bottom of the post.
Last summer 16 institutions formed the STARS network to open their doors to more rural and small-town students. Now, thanks to a generous donation, it’s doubling in size.
ince its founding last year, the Small Town and Rural Students (STARS) College Network—a coalition of 16 public and private institutions—has sent representatives to 1,100 small-town high schools in 49 states, providing more than 700,000 rural students with the information and support they need to enroll in a bachelor’s degree program.
Now many more students are poised to receive the same help: STARS is doubling its membership to include “32 of the nation’s most prominent institutions,” according to an announcement released today. The expansion will be supported by $150 million over the next 10 years from Trott Family Philanthropies, which provided an initial $20 million for the launch.
“When I look at the sheer number of high schools we visited … it’s exponentially more than anything we could have done as individual institutions,” said Marjorie Betley, deputy director of admissions at the University of Chicago and executive director of STARS. “It was a logical next step to then say, ‘OK, this does seem to be working? Can we continue to scale it?’”
Harris To Sit with Bret Baier on Fox, Fox News
VP Kamala Harris will give her first formal Fox News interview with Bret Baier on Special Report this Wednesday in Pennsylvania, a key media move ahead of the 2024 election.
FEMA Workers Adapt to Threats, CBS News
EMA workers paused door-to-door recovery efforts in North Carolina after receiving threats, amid growing safety concerns and disinformation about the Hurricane response.
Debate Over Bill Clinton Comments, CNN
The Trump campaign highlighted Bill Clinton’s comments linking the death of Georgia student Laken Riley to immigration vetting failures to criticize Biden and Harris’ border policies.
The West Wing’s Podium War, Axios
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has blocked John Kirby, Biden’s top foreign affairs spokesperson, from joining briefings, asserting more control since Anita Dunn’s departure.
Americans’ Trust in Media at All Time Low, For the Left
Americans’ trust in the media remains at a record low, with only 31% confident in accurate reporting, while local and state governments garner more trust than Congress, Gallup reports.
Geraldo Rivera Endorses Harris, For the Right
Geraldo Rivera, once a Trump ally, announced he is backing Kamala Harris for president, stating that Trump “cannot be trusted to honor the Constitution” following the 2020 election.
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