The National Center for Education Statistics’ “National Assessment of Adult Literacy” study revealed that approximately 32 million illiterate adults lived in the U.S. in 2003. According to the results of the study, “[f]rom 1992 to 2003, the USA added about 23 million adults to its population; in that period, an estimated 3.6 million more joined the ranks of adults with low literacy skills.” While some states, including Mississippi, improved adult literacy rates during this period, several large states’ numbers worsened. California, New York, Florida, and Nevada were among those with disappointing results.

Access the full report here.

In October 2008, the National Center on Public Policy and Higher Education and the Public Agenda released a report entitled, The Iron Triangle: College Presidents Talk About Costs, Access, and Quality. Direct quotations from interviews with presidents of major research universities, regional state institutions, private colleges, and community colleges comprise the majority of the report.  In conducting these interviews, the researchers found that in general, college presidents agree on the major issues facing their institutions and students, despite the varying natures of their institutions. The three areas of chief concern reported were accessibility, affordability, and quality and accountability.

Access the full report here.

In January 2009, the American Association of State and Community Colleges (AASCU) published an article entitled, “Top 10 State Policy Issues for Higher Education in 2009,” which focuses primarily on the impact of policy issues on college access.  While acknowledging that each state will be affected in its own unique way, AASCU’s list is intended to apply across all 50 states.

Access the full article here.