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Know before you go (with federal aid) to high-risk, low-earnings colleges
FAFSA will warn students who apply for aid to attend colleges where graduates earn less than workers with only a high school degree.

Joanne Jacobs
3 days ago2 min read


We broke the ladder
Teenagers aren't learning work skills in entry-level jobs. Employers prefer to hire immigrants.

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 282 min read


High schools require too many subjects -- and too little competence
Streamline high school course requirements.

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 243 min read


Visioning synergies in the School of Human Narratives
Corporate blather won't restore faith in higher education, argues an English professor whose department may be merged into Human Narratives and Creative Expression.

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 223 min read


Idiocratic education
Relying on AI to do the math for you is "a recipe for idiocracy."

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 203 min read


Ford can't find mechanics for $120K: It takes math to learn a trade
Ford can't find auto mechanics -- for $120,000 a year. Most high school graduates don't know enough math (or read well enough) to succeed in job training.

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 172 min read


Why are we sending illiterate high school grads to college?
If "open access" colleges raised standards, would students work harder to qualify?

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 32 min read


It's not a crisis: Students are saying 'no' to low-value colleges, low-pay majors
College enrollment remains strong at high-value colleges, but young people are wary of colleges and degrees that are unlikely to pay off.

Joanne Jacobs
Oct 112 min read


High schoolers are earning career credentials, but most have no value
Most career credentials offered in high school will not lead to a career, or even an entry-level job, but may provide an easier path to a diploma.

Joanne Jacobs
Sep 222 min read


College dreams: Should your kid major in psychology? Cannabis studies?
Naive 18-year-olds are choosing college majors without knowing whether they're likely to finish a degree or qualify for a job that will enable them to pay their college loans.

Joanne Jacobs
Sep 212 min read


Dropouts, renegades, mad scientists and billionaires
As Americans lose faith in the value of a college education, Silicon Valley is celebrating dropout entrepreneurs.

Joanne Jacobs
Sep 123 min read


Why humanities don't get no respect -- except for philosophy
Humanities would get more respect -- and graduates would earn more -- if professors made classes harder.

Joanne Jacobs
Aug 121 min read


Feds will fund job training for all, but will short-term programs pay off?
Federal Pell grants will find job credentials for low-income Americans, but many job programs have weak results.

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 292 min read


Indiana teens combine high school, apprenticeship -- but programs are “infinitesimally small”
"Earn and learn" programs for high school students are very small.

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 192 min read


Going fuzzy: NY drops exams for 'portrait of a graduate'
A fuzzy "portrait of a graduate" will replace New York's Regents exams.

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 172 min read


If AI kills the market value of a degree, how many colleges will survive?
AI is destroying the value of a college degree -- everyone's cheating -- and taking entry-level jobs from new graduates.

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 162 min read


Adults can turn experience to credits for a speedy degree
Giving college credits for skills learned on the job is helping adults earn degrees and colleges fill empty seats.

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 123 min read


Don't wait for college: High schools can put students on track for high-demand jobs
Redesign high schools to prepare students for skilled careers in growth industries.

Joanne Jacobs
Jun 262 min read


Blue-collar jobs are unfilled, but young Americans don't have skills
Demand is high for skilled technicians and manufacturing workers, but few high school or college graduates are qualified.

Joanne Jacobs
Jun 261 min read


Learn to plumb: New grads are competing with AI for coding jobs
College graduates are having trouble finding entry-level jobs in computer science and finance. Some blame AI.

Joanne Jacobs
Jun 62 min read
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