Cruel Expectation: The Politics of “College-For-All” Jack Powers / December 6, 2010 Politics of Contemporary Urban Education CUNY Graduate Center Unlimited Access to Publicly Supported College is Both a Necessity and a Right

College for Two-Fifths

Schools Accountability Employment and the Tax Base Economic Development and Competitiveness Government, Federal, State and Local Drop Out High School AA + BA +

Government, International

International, State and Local Economic Advantage Competitiveness

Class Consciousness

Human Capital: College Provides Domain Knowledge, Cognitive Skills, Analytical Tools, Socialization Business Expectations

Employers Screen for Productive Traits Employees Signal Superior Ability and Productivity Business Expectations

K-12 Educators Public and Private Non-Profit Four Year Colleges Community Colleges For-Profit Colleges Educational Institutions

College as Investment

No College for Three-Fifths

Six year graduation rates in four-year colleges and universities 12 Source: IPEDS First Look: Enrollment in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2008; Graduation Rates, 2002 and 2005 Cohorts; and Financial Statistics Fiscal Year 2008.IPEDS First Look: Enrollment in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2008; Graduation Rates, 2002 and 2005 Cohorts; and Financial Statistics Fiscal Year Average Student Debt at Graduation in 2009: $24,000

Three year graduation rates in two-year institutions 13 Overall rate: 30.5% Source: IPEDS First Look: Enrollment in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2008; Graduation Rates, 2002 and 2005 Cohorts; and Financial Statistics Fiscal Year 2008.IPEDS First Look: Enrollment in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2008; Graduation Rates, 2002 and 2005 Cohorts; and Financial Statistics Fiscal Year 2008.

Student Loan Defaults Default Rates and Dropouts: Experience of the Missouri Public Two and Four Year Cohort

Cruel Expectation Unreasonable Aspirations College is Both a Necessity and a Right Everybody Follows the Same Path Underemployment Devalues Bachelor’s Degree Unprepared Students Inadequate K-12 Schooling 8.7% High School Drop Out Rate “Cooling Out” Consolation To Publicly Supported Community Colleges High Costs of Failure Remediation Identity Significant Loss of Time and Money Negative Class Consciousness