Even a small amount of college can help toward better career

By René Hill

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009 | 4:13 p.m.

As a teacher in a Title I middle school, I am always looking for ways to encourage my students to better themselves through education. We have several programs that show students the benefits of staying in school and going on to higher education.

It was very interesting to read through an article in this week's Education Week about a study recently released by the Hudson Institute that looked at the educational pathways that can produce the high-paying careers needed for social mobility among low-income families.

The report, "Pathways to Boosting the Earnings of Low-Income Students by Increasing Their Educational Attainment," was prepared for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation by Hudson and CNA Analysis and Solutions.

The report documents the results of the study that was based on data collected on the high school, postsecondary and workforce experiences of all Florida students who were in the ninth grade in 1996. After examining the group of more than 144,000 students, researchers found that while "academic degrees increased the amount the recipients earned, certificates from community colleges and technical schools also led to well-paid careers."

In addition, the study found that students who focused their studies on science, technology and mathematics tended to be among the most successful. The study also found implications for future earnings of students in the way they were prepared during their high school careers. High-performing, well-prepared high school students tended to select college concentrations that would lead to higher earnings.

What are the implications of this study? We as parents and teachers have the duty to encourage our students, especially those who come from low-income environments.

The parents that I work with know this fact. They want their children to have a brighter future, and a good education is the best way to that future. We need to get the word out, as well, that there are scholarships and grants available to these students so that they have the resources to attend colleges and trade schools.

It takes all of us working together to overcome poverty, and it can be best accomplished through education.

Rene Hill is an English teacher in the Clark County School District. She can be reached c/o The News, 2360 Corporate Circle, Third Floor, Henderson, NV 89074 or [email protected].