As of 2007, 34 percent of the nation's Hispanic population ages 25-29 had completed at least some college, compared with 66 percent of white and 50 percent of black U.S. residents in the same age group. By 2025, it is estimated that there will be a shortage of 16 million college-educated adults in the U.S. workforce. The following reports, studies and policy briefs underscore the need to provide more college opportunity to meet future workforce demands.

Making the case for higher education
A white paper from the State Higher Education Executive Officers  proposes two higher education goals for the next U.S. president: producing 1 million more college degrees and certificates annually and positioning the United States as a world leader in education. Second to None in Attainment, Discovery, and Innovation: the National Agenda for Higher Education suggests that the fastest way to reach these goals is to focus policies on low-income, first generation and working adult students.   

Aspirations are not reality for Hispanic parents
Latino parents have higher educational aspirations than ever for their children, yet they are at the bottom rung of the higher education ladder. A Matter of Trust: Ten Key Insights from Recent Public Opinion Research on Attitudes About Education Among Hispanic Parents, Students and Young Adults suggests that lack of information, access to college opportunities and awareness about financial aid hinder Latinos' access to and success in college.  

Debunking the model-minority myth
While many Asian-American students excel in higher education, the "model-minority" stereotype can be detrimental to their college opportunities, contends a report from the College Board and the National Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander Research in Education. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders - Facts, Not Fiction: Setting the Record Straight examines why false assumptions about race, class and ethnicity often lead to misinformed policy and practices.

Report: Black males half as likely to graduate as whites
Equity of resources and quality of programs are to blame for low high school graduation rates of blacks, says a new Schott Foundation report. Given Half a Chance: the Schott 50 State Report on Public Education and Black Males suggests monitoring the distribution of education funds in states where less than half of black males graduate or where the graduation-rate gap between black and white males exceeds 15 percentage points.

Disparities in college graduation rates not inevitable
Racial inequities mean unequal opportunities for many minority students. Less than half of all black undergraduates finish college within six years, and the majority of postsecondary institutions have lower graduation rates for blacks than for whites, says Graduation Rate Watch: Making Minority Student Success a Priority. This Education Sector study uses federal data to identify universities with small or nonexistent gaps between graduation rates of whites and blacks and discusses strategies to bridge the gap.

90 million Americans unable to meet workplace needs
Diminished literacy skills among adults undermine the nation's economic future. According to The National Commission on Adult Literacy's report, Reach Higher, America: Overcoming Crisis in the U.S. Workforce, up to 90 million adults are ill-equipped to meet global workforce demands or secure a family-sustaining wage job. The report suggests improving state and federal adult literacy programs and creating an adult education and workforce-skills system capable of enrolling 20 million adults by 2020.

The price tag of inadequate education
Sending poorly prepared high school students to college is costly for postsecondary institutions, taxpayers and the economy. A new report from the Pacific Research Institute estimates that California state schools pay up to $14 billion annually to provide remedial education for freshmen. The High Price of Failure in California: How Inadequate Education Costs Schools, Students, and Society recommends testing students as early as the second grade to measure whether they are on track for college.

The new gateway to college and career: tough math courses
Higher-level math is important for all students, not just those seeking a four-year academic degree or a math-related career, according to an Achieve policy brief. The Building Blocks of Success: Higher-Level Math for All Students explores the intellectual and practical benefits of taking higher-level mathematics courses during high school and the impact on college access and success, career-readiness, and U.S. competitiveness.

Report: Career academies boost earnings potential
Career academies aim to keep high school students academically engaged and better prepared for college and the workplace. A long-term MDRC  study of nine career academies reveals that eight years after graduation, participants enjoy significantly higher employment earnings than similar students in a control group. More than 80 percent of students in Career Academies: Long-Term Impacts on Labor Market Outcomes, Educational Attainment, and Transitions to Adulthood were black or Hispanic.