A longitudinal study of two cohorts of young white men (the first followed from the late 1960s through the 1970s; the second from the 1980s through the early 1990s) determined that long-term wage growth between the ages of 16 and 36 has both declined and become significantly more unequal for the recent cohort. The declines have been concentrated…

Trends in economics in the United States show a strong positive relationship between educational attainment and productivity growth. The earnings differential between those with more education and those with less education reflects the fact that education raises productivity rather than the fact that more productive students go on to pursue more…

The third follow-up survey of the National Longitudinal Study (NLS) of the High School Class of 1972 was conducted from October, 1976 to May, 1977. From the data gathered, some of the following observations were made: (1) postsecondary school attendance declined from 54 to 25 percent from 1972 to 1976; (2) 39 percent of students who started…

This paper explores some trends in U.S. education, student achievement, and worker earnings. Some of the findings are the following: (1) U.S. students are doing well in reading literacy but lag behind other leading nations in mathematics and science; (2) U.S. elementary school students have one of the lowest pupil-teacher ratios among the world's…

This brief draws on data from the 1980 and 1990 censuses and other sources to profile American Indian demographic trends and educational experiences. Highlights for 1988-90 include the following: (1) the American Indian population reached 1.9 million in 1990, up 38 percent from 1980; (2) the high school dropout rate for American Indians was 35.5…

A study was made of the prose, document, and quantitative literacy skills of adults in the United States by their highest level of educational attainment. In addition, the study examined the literacy skills of recent General Educational Development (GED) graduates. The data used in the study came from the 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey…

The basic skills of reading, writing, and performing simple mathematical operations are not adequate for the non-college bound high school graduates to be fully prepared to enter the job market. Businesses today require employees who can communicate effectively, solve complex and unanticipated problems, and exercise tact and judgment. If the…

Census Bureau data on educational attainment of the U.S. population are presented for 1982 to 1985, with trend data for 1940 to 1985. A brief narrative summary of the findings is also provided. Detailed tables cover years of school completed by persons 15 years old and over by age, sex, race, Spanish origin, type of residence, region of residence,…

This research brief reviews and analyzes national data on college going, persistence, and graduation. It compares characteristics of students who enter college immediately after high school graduation with other types of postsecondary entrants, considers traditional versus nontraditional paths of college going, and examines college persisters and…

This publication contains three fact sheets on gender and employment statistics and their implications. The fact sheets are divided into two sections--statistics and implications. The statistics present the current situation of men and women workers as they relate to occupations, education, and earnings. The implications express suggestions for…

The study evaluates employment opportunities, job satisfaction, and migration among young Washington adults. Results were based on data collected in a 1973 mail survey of members of high school classes graduating in 1965 or 1966 (N=1059) from rural schools throughout the state. A follow-up survey of the migrating portion of the sample takes a…

This abstract uses graphs and text to summarize recent statistics on the education of children with disabilities based on data from the U.S. Department of Education. It reports that 12.2 percent of students enrolled in American schools in 1993-94 were officially designated as having disabilities. More than two-thirds of students have mental or…

It is generally acknowledged that the earnings differential between those who have college degrees and those who do not is large, but whether higher achieving students who do not go on to college earn more than lower achieving students has not been clarified. Research from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 shows that the labor…

This publication presents information on the outcomes of high school. It begins with an overview, "Youth at the Crossroads: Facing High School and Beyond," which suggests there are fundamental educational gaps among African American and Latino high school students and White students. The main article, "Are Today's Graduates Ready?" (Kati Haycock…

This paper identifies issues to consider as educational policy makers make decisions about diploma options and graduation policies for students with disabilities, especially in the context of the increasing use of requirements that students pass specified tests to graduate. A table compares advantages and disadvantages of four diploma options: (1)…