Question 1Multiple Choice: Which detail best illustrates why many adult Americans do not pursue postsecondary education?Need help with this skill? Review Part 2."By 2020, nearly two-thirds of jobs will require postsecondary education." (Paragraph 1)"fewer than 45 percent of adult Americans currently have earned an associate degree or higher" (Paragraph 1)"The cost of higher education and its impact on access and opportunity is a major barrier" (Paragraph 2)"Talent and ability are not relegated to those of higher means." (Paragraph 2)

By 2020, nearly two-thirds of jobs will require postsecondary education. Yet, fewer than 45 percent of adult Americans currently have earned an associate degree1 or higher, as reported in national data.The cost of higher education and its impact on access and opportunity is a major barrier to more students earning degrees. Talent and ability are not relegated2 to those of higher means. Our present challenge is to assure education and opportunity for students from all backgrounds. Sadly, we as a nation have been comfortable with very good schools for the haves and less than good ones for the have-nots.Question 1 On the federal level, Pell awards3 should be increased and eligibility expanded for students with the greatest need. Pell awards should also be allowed to continue to apply during the summer terms so that students persist and graduate on time.On average, an American student takes 5.1 years to earn the bachelor’s degree. Time to degree completion has increased over the past decades due to a number of factors, such as the need to work and inadequate pre-collegiate schooling. Each extra year increases the cost of the bachelor’s degree by 25 percent. The time it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree could be reduced if students didn’t have to take courses to acquire math and language skills that are normally mastered in high school.Questions 2-3[5]Bold steps are needed. These include building an equitable K-12 educational pipeline that provides better college readiness for all of America’s students. Quality K-12 requires great teachers who remain in the profession and teach in schools with the greatest need. The teaching profession must be elevated and the nation’s best students should be encouraged to become teachers. For their service, school loans should be forgiven or repaid. Colleges and universities should also create postsecondary certificates and credentials meeting the needs of students entering careers that do not require college degrees.Questions 4-5The HBCU4 where I serve as president, Xavier University of Louisiana, has been leading the nation in educating African-Americans who go on to achieve medical degrees. The school also excels in preparing students who achieve Ph.D.s in the STEM fields. A 2017 study has ranked the university 6th in the nation for social mobility, whereby students from the lower 40 percent of the U.S. income distribution enter the upper 40 percent. Our success and the success of other HBCUs should dispel any notion that talent is associated with socioeconomic5 status.The education of our citizens is not only an individual but a collective benefit: America thrives if it develops all of its talent.Question 6

Assessment: Which detail from the text best highlights an advantage of educating all young people, regardless of socioeconomic status?A. "Our present challenge is to assure education and opportunity for students from all backgrounds." (Paragraph 2)B. "Each extra year increases the cost of the bachelor's degree by 25 percent." (Paragraph 4)C. "A 2017 study has ranked the university 6th in the nation for social mobility" (Paragraph 6)D. "America thrives if it develops all of its talent." (Paragraph 7)

Which of the following best illustrates the mismatch between education levels and workforce needs in the United States?Multiple choice question.There are fewer college graduates.Many high school graduates are overqualified for the jobs they obtain after graduation.High-school dropouts and others possess the literacy skills needed for available jobs.Many college graduates are underemployed and working at jobs that require less education than they possess.

five non-college options available for postsecondary education.

9A student is writing a research paper that investigates the relationship of higher education to employment in the United States.Match each source of information with the phrase that describes its sufficiency to the assignment.Answer options may be used more than once or not at all. Select your answers from the pull-down list.A peer-reviewed journal article that shows that people with college degrees have a 20 percent better rate of employment than those with a high school diplomaA case study of one state's employment rates that shows higher employment among those with a college degreeA university publication that describes a survey of 10 people with college degrees who report a high rate of employment in their fields of studyA study that shows that people with college degrees are more likely to engage in social activities