1. May 7, 2015 RI School Superintendents’ Association Jim Purcell, Ed.D., Commissioner, Postsecondary Education 1

2. » Density of educated/skilled workers » Access to good schools, colleges, universities, hospitals » Community leadership » Local economic development strategies » Return to city-states ˃ Sparta and Athens » Work-ready communities 2

3. 1 additional year of school among those without a high school diploma 1 additional year of school among those with at least a high school diploma 17.8% increase in real wages per worker 17.4% increase in GDP per capita No effect upon GDP per capita or real wages 3

4. POPULATIONPOPULATION You can only have a density of educated workers where there is a density of people. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Census of Population 4

5. POVERTYPOVERTY Poverty is a financial stressor on Rhode Island’s economy. Futurists say the nature of poverty in a community will dictate the necessary action, but the easiest (and least expensive) path out of poverty is education. The percentage of the population living in poverty 5

6. Providence Plan, 2015 Healthcare and Social Assistance Sector Average salary $42,890 13,852 new jobs over the next 10 years Increase of jobs in the sector of 17.2% 6 Professional, Scientific, Technical Sector Average salary $69,286 4528 new jobs over the next 10 years Increase of jobs in the sector of 21.1% Accommodation and Food Service Sector Average salary $17, 476 5419 jobs over the next 10 years Increase of jobs in the sector of 12.3% Government Sector Average salary $61,089 -959 jobs over the next 10 years Decrease of jobs in the sector of 3.0%

7. Rhode Island Fiscal Support for Higher Education per $1,000 of Personal Income, 1961-2014 Current state support is below 1963 levels, but improving. 7

8. 8 Rhode Island Scholarship and Grant Support for Students, 2005-2015

9. » S trengthening institutional capacity » A ligning with workforce needs » I ncreasing attainment » L owering college costs for students 9

10. » Expanding dual enrollment » Re-thinking remediation » Introducing “last dollar” state scholarships 10

11. » Building partnerships » Implementing curricular changes » Coordinating longitudinal data 11

12. Jim Purcell, Ed.D., Commissioner Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner Jim.purcell@ribghe.org 401-456-6000 12