San Jose, CA., and Washington, D.C. --
On September 15, the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education will release Measuring Up 2004: The National Report Card on Higher Education. For the first time, this edition of Measuring Up will highlight ten-year trends on higher education performance across the nation and within the states. Measuring Up measures the nation's and each state's performance in providing education and training beyond high school. Previous national and state-by-state results were released in Measuring Up 2000 and Measuring Up 2002.
Measuring Up 2004 examines higher education as it affects the lives of most Americans. This report card provides policy leaders, the higher education community, and the American public with a clear picture of which states offer college opportunity and which states do not.
The report card evaluates each state by using "A" through "F" grades in five key areas of higher education performance:
- Preparation: How well are students prepared to take advantage of college?
- Participation: Do state residents enroll in college-level education?
- Affordability: How affordable is higher education in each state?
- Completion: Do those who enroll complete their educational goals?
- Benefits: What economic and civic benefits does each state receive as a result of having a more highly educated population?
The grades in the report card measure each state's performance in relation to other states. All grades are based on quantitative measures of performance rather than on the opinions or judgments of authors or sponsors.
Comprehensive, individual state reports are also featured in separate state summary reports. Upon release of the report, state-by-state comparisons and report methodology will be available on the National Center's web site at www.highereducation.org.
Measuring Up 2004 will be released Wednesday, September 15. The report is embargoed until September 15.
Live Web Cast of Event, 9:30 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time): Members of the press and the public outside the Washington area will be able to view the Measuring Up 2004 symposium via a live web cast (also accessible after the event) at the National Center's web site at www.highereducation.org.
Video News Release: A video news release, available via satellite, will provide television networks and affiliates with approximately a 90-second national video and B-roll. For satellite coordinates, please call Maureen Parenta at 800-766-1711, ext. 239, or send email to: moreinfo@dwjtv.com. After September 15, the VNR can be viewed by visiting the multimedia gallery page at www.dwjtv.com.
Audio News Release: An audio news release will be available on September 15 and will provide radio stations with actualities about the overall national findings. For information about accessing the audio news release, call Maureen Parenta at 800-766-1711, ext. 239, or send email to: moreinfo@dwjtv.com. After September 15, the ANR can be heard by visiting the multimedia gallery page at www.dwjtv.com.
The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education promotes public policies that enhance Americans' opportunities to pursue and achieve a quality higher education. Established in 1998, the National Center is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. It is not associated with any institution of higher education, with any political party, or with any government agency.
The National Center is supported by grants from The Atlantic Philanthropies, The Ford Foundation, and The Pew Charitable Trusts. Special funding for the Measuring Up reports is provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
