Using technology to improve college completion rates

EduCause is heading up a new effort funded by the Gates Foundation to use technology improve college readiness and thus completion rates.  Below are their main bullets and a link to more information.  This links a couple of themes showing up in this blog lately: The importance of college completion rates, and how we in Computing should be in the forefront of figuring out how to use technology for learning.

• The high school graduation rate for all U.S. students is just over 70%. For African-Americans, Hispanics, and low-income students, the rate hovers at slightly over 50%.
• Of those who do graduate from high school, only half are prepared to succeed in college.
• For those who do enroll in postsecondary education, only about half will actually earn a degree or certification, with as few as one quarter of low-income students completing a degree.
• Today, it is virtually impossible to reach the middle class, and stay there, with only a high school diploma.
• Postsecondary education is increasingly critical to individual and family financial security, to a vibrant economy, and to an engaged and participatory society.

via Next Gen Learning Challenges | EDUCAUSE.