1	Human Capital Investment and America’s Children: Education B. Joseph White President University of Illinois Harvard Club of Chicago November 29, 2007
2
3	"A Journey of Discovery" A Journey of Discovery Human Capital Investment The Power of Education The Un-level Playing Field What to Do?
4
5	Cohort of 1989 4 million births 500,000 babies born to teenagers 36,000 babies died under 1 year of age
6	Cohort of 1989 23,000 were victims of serious violent crimes 26% of male HS seniors and 22% of female HS seniors reported heavy drinking. 12% reported illicit drug use. 20% smoked cigarettes.
7	Cohort of 1989 3,232,000 graduated from high school in 2006. 39000 were in jail at age 18. 85% graduated or will graduate from high school. 66% will attend post-secondary schools. 28% will graduate from college.
8
9	College graduation rates by income quartile
10	College graduation rates by income quartile
11	College graduation rates by income quartile
12	College graduation rates by income quartile
13
14
15
16	The Power of Education Enables people to realize their dreams Builds a strong society Increases international competitiveness
17	A higher level of education makes you more likely to: Vote Volunteer Give blood Report better health Exercise Make more money Have health insurance Have children with higher cognitive skills Have children who participate in after-school activities Have a pension Try to understand the opinions of others
18	A higher level of education makes you less likely to: Go to prison Be unemployed Live in poverty Smoke Need public assistance Die at a younger age Have children who drop out of school
19	Lifetime earnings
20	Poverty
21	Unemployment
22	Education and Prison Inmates
23	Exercise
24	Voting
25	Blood Donation
26	Volunteerism
27	Smoking rates and education (2002-2004)
28	Death rates and education level (Americans aged 25-64, 2004)
29
30	Some Good News Increasing rates of college enrollment Rising rates of high school graduation Parents reading to their children But … Improvements unevenly distributed Progress inadequate in international competition
31	Immediate College Enrollment Rates (2- and 4- year colleges)
32	Educational Attainment over Time
33	The Un-level Playing Field Disparities in education and the consequences for American citizens and society
34
35	Per pupil spending - Illinois (2005)
36	Teachers report serious problems in their schools (2003-04)
37	Parents who attend general school meetings by education level (2003)
38	2002-03 HS graduates in 2003-04
39	Parents who volunteer at child’s school by education level (2003)
40	Mother’s level of education and reading aloud (1998)
41	Mother’s level of education and books in the home (1998)
42	International Comparisons: Achievement levels of 15-year olds in Mathematics
43
44
45	International Comparisons: Science & Engineering Degrees
46	What to Do Pre-natal through pre-school Elementary and high school College and college alternatives
47	Pre-natal through Pre-school For most kids, it’s “game on” or “game over” by age seven Home and family are the foundation. If not there, where? So: Health care reform Parenting education Early literacy initiatives Quality childcare availability Pre-school programs
48	Elementary and High School High performance can be achieved despite the odds “Golden Spike” schools Glenn W. McGee, “Closing the Achievement Gap: Lessons from Illinois’ Golden Spike High-Poverty High-Performing Schools” (Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk 9(2), 97-125, 2004) JAG (Jobs for America’s Graduates) Helping at-risk young people graduate from high school and transition to post-high school education or quality employment -- 94% high school completion rate, 77% employment rate
49	Golden Spike Schools Key Commonalities: Leadership Early literacy Talented, hard-working teachers More academic learning time Parental involvement
50	Golden Spike Policy Recommendations Make achievement of students from low-income families the top educational priority Prevent reading problems and offer early intervention for low-income children Engage parents in family literacy programs Extend learning time beyond the normal school day and year Deliver team training for all staff and administrators Expand school food service, community health access, and parent education at school
51	College Improve graduation rate (the 60/30 gap) Improve college readiness (Gates Foundation) Baccalaureate completion process Online education (e.g., Global Campus Increase science and math majors Improve access and affordability
52	College Alternatives College is not for everybody Former high schools paths are gone (shop, home economics, vocational education), new ones not established / available Need alternative high schools
53	Hard Questions Can we embrace choice, competition and cooperation in education? Can we link money to reform – financial and educational? Can we scale up successful innovations?
54	Some Harder Questions What to do when parents and family don’t perform? How do we reconcile individual accountability with community consequences? Do we care enough?
55	The Hardest Question Will the children of the “Greatest Generation” – who might be called the “Luckiest Generation” – meet these challenges in the remainder of our lives?
56