IN HIS graduation day speech Friday at UMass-Boston, Governor Patrick vowed to try "to change fundamentally the way we think about and deliver public education." His "cradle to career" system would offer preschool to all and a longer school day. Perhaps Patrick's biggest idea, though, is his proposal to make community colleges free to all high school graduates by 2015.
With average tuition of about $3,500, community colleges in Massachusetts cost more than in most other states. The Patrick administration has yet to detail the costs of its proposal. But given scarce resources, the benefits depend upon a fundamental question: What purpose, exactly, should community colleges serve in Massachusetts?
The governor's education adviser, Dana Mohler-Faria, noted Friday that community colleges have significant benefits regardless of why students choose to attend. Those who complete two years of college enjoy better prospects throughout their lives.
Still, different purposes suggest different policies. For some students community college is high school II -- a chance to catch up on academics and figure out what to do next.
At the same time, some states have tightly integrated their community colleges with two-year technical schools. Some states -- including North Carolina -- have tailored their curricula to the demands of employers, using their community colleges to crank out graduates capable of filling specialized jobs in the biotech and healthcare industries.Labels: academy awards, career training, education online, financial aid, free college, free education, high school, scholarship, student loans, study abroad |
