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The Lowdown on Higher Education
The United States is facing a “crisis” in higher education, according to a report released Monday by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
“The U.S. is no longer the best in the world,” said Texas state representative Geanie W. Morrison, a member of the Blue Ribbon Commission, the group of 12 state legislators that produced the report. “Other countries outperform the U.S. because of the emphasis they put on higher education.”
Morrison, the chair of the Higher Education Committee, noted that the Texas state constitution guarantees an education for students, but only up through high school.
The report, the culmination of two years of work, makes the case that it is up to the states to better higher education and outlines 15 recommendations for state legislators.
They include setting long-term goals for higher education, understanding each state’s demographic trends and rethinking funding. The group doesn’t exactly request more money, but asks for a better direction of funds.
“We have to increase grants and aid,” Morrison said.
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