PDF MEASURING UP 2008 - Higher Education

MEASURING UP

2008

THE STATE REPORT CARD ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Kentucky

What Is Measuring Up?

Measuring Up is a series of biennial report cards that provide the general public and policymakers with information to assess and improve higher education in each state. The report cards evaluate states because they are primarily responsible for educational access and quality in the United States. This year's edition, Measuring Up 2008, is the fifth in the series, which began in 2000. In Measuring Up, "higher education" refers to all education and training beyond high school, including public and private, two- and four-year, and for-profit and nonprofit institutions.

The report card grades states in six overall performance categories:

Preparation: How adequately does the state prepare students for education and training beyond high school?

Participation: Do state residents have sufficient opportunities to enroll in education and training beyond high school?

Affordability: How affordable is higher education for students and their families?

Completion: Do students make progress toward and complete their certificates or degrees in a timely manner?

Benefits: What benefits does the state receive from having a highly educated population?

Learning: What is known about student learning as a result of education and training beyond high school?

Each state receives a letter grade in each performance category. Each grade is based on the state's performance on several indicators, or quantitative measures, in that category.

In four of the performance categories -- Preparation, Participation, Completion, and Benefits -- grades are calculated by comparing each state's current performance with that of the best-performing states. This comparison provides a benchmark for evaluating each state's performance within a national context and encourages each state to "measure up" to the highest-performing states. The Affordability category is the exception. In this category, the state's current performance is compared with the performance of the best states in the late 1990s, since current performance reflects a trend to "measure down" rather than "measure up." All but one state receive an "F" in Affordability. The failing grades in this category confirm the fast decline in affordable higher education for American families. Despite state and federal increases in student financial aid, the over-

all portion of income that most families must devote for higher education continues to escalate.

In Measuring Up 2008, state performance in higher education is assessed in three ways:

Graded Information: Each state's current performance is compared with that of the bestperforming states, and the results are indicated by letter grades.

Change Over Time: Change Over Time indicators compare each state's current performance with its own previous performance in the 1990s. For each category, the state's change is determined by its improvement or decline in performance on a key indicator in that category. This information is displayed in two ways. First, states receive either an "up" or a "down" arrow in each performance area (see page 3). An "up" arrow indicates that the state has increased or remained stable on the key indicator in the category, a "down" arrow indicates that the state has declined on the key indicator in the category. Secondly, information about Change Over Time is presented graphically in greater detail on the fourth page of this report card.

International Comparisons: As in 2006, this year's edition of Measuring Up offers international comparisons that reveal how well the United States and each of the 50 states are preparing residents with the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in a global economy. State performance is compared with the performance of nations that are associated with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

In Measuring Up 2008, all states receive an "Incomplete" in Learning because there are not sufficient data to allow meaningful state-by-state comparisons. Measuring Up 2006 provided statespecific information on Learning for nine states, but in 2008 no state collects and provides the information necessary to determine the state's "educational capital" -- or the level of knowledge and skills possessed by its residents.

MEASURING UP 2008 2

A Snapshot of Grades and Change Over Time

Preparation: Grades: 6 states received an A, 18 states received a B, 21 states received a C, 5 states received a D, and no state received an F.

Change Over Time:* 34 states have improved or remained stable on the key indicator and 16 states have declined on the key indicator.

Participation: Grades: 2 states received an A, 8 states received a B, 22 states received a C, 15 states received a D, and 3 states received an F.

Change Over Time:* 43 states have improved or remained stable on the key indicator and 7 states have declined on the key indicator.

Affordability: Grades: 1 state received a C and 49 states received an F.

Change Over Time:* 2 states have improved or remained stable on the key indicator and 48 states have declined on the key indicator.

Completion: Grades: 11 states received an A, 20 states received a B, 16 states received a C, 1 state received a D, and 2 states received an F.

Change Over Time:* 48 states have improved or remained stable on the key indicator and 2 states have declined on the key indicator.

Benefits: Grades: 5 states received an A, 15 states received a B, 19 states received a C, 10 states received a D, and 1 state received an F.

Change Over Time:* 50 states have improved or remained stable on the key indicator.

* For the key indicators for Change Over Time, please see the five indicators with asterisks on page 4.

Kentucky

PREPARATION

C

2008 Grade

Change Over Time

Kentucky has made strides in preparing young people for college, though compared with other states its performance is only fair.

n Kentucky is one of the fastest-improving states in the scores of 8th graders in science and lowincome 8th graders in math--though their performance in both areas remains low.

n There is an 8% gap between whites and all minorities in the percentage of young adults with a high school credential.

PARTICIPATION

C

2008 Grade

Change Over Time

College opportunities for young and workingage adults are only fair.

n The likelihood of enrolling in college by age 19 has increased by 28%, but remains only fair.

n There is a 6% gap between whites and all minorities in the percentage of young adults enrolled in college.

REPORT CARD

Preparation

C

Participation C

Affordability

F

Completion

B

Benefits

D+

Learning

I

AFFORDABILITY

F

2008 Grade

Change Over Time

Higher education has become less affordable for students and their families.

n Poor and working-class families must devote 39% of their income, even after aid, to pay for costs at public four-year colleges.

n Financial aid to low-income students is low. For every dollar in Pell Grant aid to students, the state spends only 48 cents.

BENEFITS

D+

2008 Grade

Change Over Time

A very small proportion of residents have a bachelor's degree, and this substantially weakens the state economy.

n Fourteen percent of blacks have a bachelor's degree, compared with 22% of whites.

n If all racial/ethnic groups had the same educational attainment and earnings as whites, total annual personal income in the state would be about $1 billion higher.

COMPLETION

B

2008 Grade

Kentucky performs well--and has improved--in awarding certificates and degrees relative to the number of students enrolled, but few students attain a bachelor's degree in a timely manner.

Change Over Time

n Forty-seven percent of college students complete a bachelor's degree within six years.

n Thirty-seven percent of blacks graduate within six years, compared with 49% of whites.

LEARNING

I

2008 Grade

Like all states, Kentucky receives an "Incomplete" in Learning because there is not sufficient data to allow meaningful state-by-state comparisons.

WHAT DO THE ARROWS MEAN?

State has increased or remained stable on the key indicator in the category.

State has declined on the key indicator in the category.

MEASURING UP 2008 3

CHANGE OVER TIME: KEY INDICATORS

Kentucky 2008

This page reflects Kentucky's performance and progress since the early 1990s on several key indicators.

PREPARATION

The percentage of young adults in Kentucky who earn a high school diploma has increased substantially since the early 1990s. However, high school completion is slightly below the U.S. average and below the top-performing states.

Percentage of 18?24 Year-Olds with a High School Credential*

100

95

94

94

95

90

88

86

85

86

86

87

80

81

75

1990-92

1998-2000

2006

PARTICIPATION

College enrollment of young adults in Kentucky has improved substantially since the early 1990s. The state is slightly above the national average but below the top states in the percentage of young adults enrolled.

Percentage of 18?24 Year-Olds Enrolled in College*

60

50

43

44

39

40

33

35

29 30

34

28

30

20

1991

2001

2007

The enrollment of working-age adults, relative to the number of residents without a bachelor's degree, has declined in Kentucky--as it has nationally and in the best-performing states. The percentage attending college in Kentucky is slightly below the U.S. average and well below the top states.

Percentage of 25?49 Year-Olds Without a Bachelor's Degree Enrolled in College

12 10.6

10

9.3

8.9

8

7.2

6.9

6

6.2

5.7

5.3

5.6

4

1991

2001

2007

AFFORDABILITY

COMPLETION

The share of family income, even after financial aid, needed to pay for public two- and four-year colleges has risen. To attend public two-year colleges in Kentucky, students and families pay less than the U.S. average but more than those in the best-performing states. To attend public four-year colleges, they pay about the same as the national average, which is more than those in the best states pay.

The number of undergraduate credentials and degrees awarded in Kentucky, relative to the number of students enrolled, has increased substantially since the early 1990s. Kentucky surpasses the U.S. average and performs equal to the top states on this measure.

Percentage of Income Needed to Pay for Public Two- and Four-Year Colleges

All Degree Completions per 100 Students*

40

Public Two-Year

Public Four-Year*

30

35

25

30

25 20 19 19

24 21

19

15

13

19 20

28 28 15

20 20

15

14

10

12

21 16 15

21 21

18

10

10

5

5

0 1999-2000 2007-2008

1999-2000 2007-2008

0 1992

2000

2007

*Key indicator for the category.

BENEFITS

The percentage of residents who have a bachelor's degree has increased in Kentucky, but is well below the U.S. average and the top states.

Percentage of 25?64 Year-Olds with a Bachelor's Degree or Higher*

40

37

35

29 30

29 27

20

23

22

19

15

10

1990

2000

2006

& = Kentucky

LEGEND:

& = United States

MEASURING UP 2008 4

& = Median of Top Five States

PREPARATION

Kentucky 2008

C

Kentucky has made strides in preparing young people for college, though compared with other states its performance is only fair.

2008 Grade Change Over Time

Graded Information

Compared with other states:

n Eighty-seven percent of young adults in Kentucky earn a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) diploma by age 24.

n A very small proportion (27%) of 8th graders take algebra.

n The performance of 8th graders in Kentucky on national assessments in reading is fairly low, and in science is only fair. They perform poorly on national assessments in math and very poorly in writing.

n Low-income 8th graders perform poorly on national assessments in math.

n Very small proportions of 11th and 12th graders score well on Advanced Placement tests, and fairly small proportions score well on college entrance exams.

n Sixty-nine percent of secondary school students are taught by qualified teachers, which compares well with top-performing states.

Performance Gaps

n There is an 8% gap between whites and all minorities in the percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds with a high school credential.

Change in Graded Measures

n Over the past 15 years, the percentage of 8th graders performing well on national assessments in math has increased substantially, although Kentucky's current performance on this measure remains poor when compared with other states.

PREPARATION

Kentucky

Early 1990s* 2008

Top States

High School Completion (25%)

18- to 24-year-olds with a high school credential

81%

87%

95%

K-12 Course taking (30%)

9th to 12th graders taking at least one upper-level math course

39%

n/a**

64%

9th to 12th graders taking at least one upper-level science course

24%

n/a**

46%

8th grade students taking algebra

n/a

27%

47%

K-12 Student Achievement (35%)

8th graders scoring at or above "proficient" on the national assessment exam in math

14%

27%

41%

8th graders scoring at or above "proficient" on the national assessment exam in reading

29%

28%

39%

8th graders scoring at or above "proficient" on the national assessment exam in science

23%

31%

41%

8th graders scoring at or above "proficient" on the national assessment exam in writing

21%

26%

46%

Low-income 8th graders scoring at or above "proficient" on the national assessment exam in math

4%

15%

24%

Number of scores in the top 20% nationally on SAT/ACT college entrance exam per 1,000 high school graduates

111

191

265

Number of scores that are 3 or higher on an Advanced Placement subject test per 1,000 high school juniors and seniors

37

110

237

Teacher Quality (10%)

7th to 12th graders taught by teachers with a major in their subject

n/a

69%

83%

* The indicators report data beginning in the early 1990s or the closest year for which reliable data are available. See the Technical Guide for Measuring Up 2008.

**Data are not available because the state did not participate in the national survey.

n Over the past decade, the percentage of 8th graders performing well on national assessments in science has increased substantially, placing Kentucky among the fastest-improving states on this measure. However, Kentucky's current performance remains only fair when compared with other states.

n During the same period, the percentage of lowincome 8th graders performing well on national assessments in math has more than tripled, although Kentucky's performance on this measure remains poor when compared with other states.

Other Key Facts

n Among working-age adults (ages 25 to 49) without a high school diploma, only 13 out of 1,000 earned a GED.

n About 22% of children under age 18 live in poverty, compared with a national rate of 18%.

n Policymakers and state residents do not have access to important information about the courses students take in high school because the state declined to participate in the national survey.

The preparation category measures how well a state's K-12 schools prepare students for education and training beyond high school. The opportunities that residents have to enroll in and benefit from higher education depend heavily on the performance of their state's K-12 educational system.

MEASURING UP 2008 5

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