An OpEd in the NYT's About Ways to Fix Education

An interesting piece that talks about the need for at least one year of education after high school.

That author, Harold O. Levy, was the New York City schools chancellor from 2000 to 2002, and has been a trustee of several colleges, said, "

The benefits of an extra year of schooling are beyond question: high school graduates can earn more than dropouts, have better health, more stable lives and a longer life expectancy. College graduates do even better. Just as we are moving toward a longer school day (where is it written that learning should end at 3 p.m.?) and a longer school year (does anyone really believe pupils need a three-month summer vacation?), so we should move to a longer school career.

President Obama recently embraced the possibility of extending public education for a year after high school: “I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training.” He suggested that this compulsory post-secondary education could be in a “community college or a four-year school; vocational training or an apprenticeship.” (I helped start an accredited online school of education, and firmly believe that the coursework could also be delivered to students online.)"

Those who have seen the turn around for students who have done an extra "PG" year know that that extra year can be a launching point for success down the road.