In response to dismal K-16 education report, the Boston Globe scapegoats community colleges

The Boston Globe editorial board apparently believes all educational woes radiate out from three small community colleges. The Globe was responding to a report by the Center for Labor Market Studies (CLMS) at Northeastern University, which was deeply critical of all levels of Boston public education.

In a recent editorial, the valiant Globe editors singled out community colleges for criticism:

“college was a bust for almost two-thirds of Boston high school graduates in the class of 2000. Students attending two-year community colleges - the least-expensive option - fared the worst… with an abysmal 12 percent graduation rate… Roxbury Community College fell flat…Quincy College, a low-profile, two-year college on the South Shore, did comparatively well (but not good enough)… Bunker Hill Community College… yielded a 14 percent graduation rate.”

The study should put an end to common claims by community college officials that their graduation rates don't reveal much because many of their students transfer to four-year colleges before earning associate degrees. In this study, a student merely needed to earn a diploma or certificate from any institution of higher education, not just the original college… Rationalizations are now off the table.”

Where to start with the criticism of this ill-informed, one-sided piece?

The Globe’s diatribe was misguided for three reasons

1. Boston Public (K-12) schools do a poor job of educating those students most likely to attend community colleges.

2. Massachusetts gives precious little support to education, and community colleges are particularly starved for funding.

3. Boston Public students struggle in all institutions of higher education, so it’s wrong to single out the community colleges.

1. Boston Public (K-12) schools do a poor job of educating those students most likely to attend Community colleges.

Despite the bold – and largely unsubstantiated - claim that, “Boston is one of the best, arguably the very best, large urban school district in the nation…” Boston city schools don't succeed at educating the below average students. According to the CLMS report, Boston’s 8^th graders fared poorly on the National Assessment of Educational Progress math tests; only 29% of all students scored “sufficient” in Math, and only 12%. Only 20% of black and Latino students scored "sufficient" on the math test.

These “insufficient” students end up at Boston’s community colleges. According to the CLMS report, “61% of community college enrollees were required to take developmental courses compared to the national average of 42%.” Worse than the national average, by far.

In other words, Boston Public Schools don't successfully prepare 'lower tier' students for college success. When students arrive at community colleges unprepared to succeed, it’s no surprise that they fail.

2. Massachusetts gives precious little support to education, and community colleges are particularly starved for funding.

As stated in the CLMS report, “Massachusetts’ per capita state spending on public higher education is estimated at 46th among 50 states.” And spending is shrinking: “Massachusetts state funding for public higher education in 2008 was 13% lower than in 2002 [sic].”

Of course, community colleges receive smallest slice of that funding. According to the Massachusetts department of Higher Education, community college students receive 30 cents in state funding for every per dollar a UMass student receives.

Unwilling to fund public higher education, Massachusetts places the burden on community college students, “annual tuition and fees for fall 2008 at MA community colleges: $3,480 2007 national average $2,361.” (CLMS report) Massachusetts is also very stingy with need based aid. According to the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs (NASSGAP), MA ranks 36^th among states in grants given per full time student.

Money won’t solve all of Massachusetts’ educational problems, but the Bay State would do well to invest in student success.

3. Boston Public Schools students struggle in all institutions of higher education, so it’s wrong to single out the community colleges.

The Globe singles out community colleges because 70% of Boston Public students dropped out after 7 years. But 4-year public college students dropped out at a 50% rate, despite much higher state funding. And at 4-year private schools, only 56% of students graduated in the same time period.

Boston Public Schools face grave challenges. Those challenges cannot be met if ill-informed pundits lay the blame solely on community colleges.