MARCH 4, 2010

The True Cost of Remedial Education in Nebraska

 

By Rubria Jessica Hintz
Platte Institute

Remedial classes are taken by students who are not prepared for entrance level courses taken by most college students. These young scholars and their parents fully expect that successful graduation from an accredited high school has prepared them for success; however, 21% of all post secondary students were enrolled in at least one remedial class in 2003-04.1 Although this is an alarming statistic, a significant number of these students may be older adults returning to college. "Nearly four out of five students who undergo remediation in college graduated from high school with grade-point averages of 3.0 or higher," which suggests they met their high school graduation requirements, but did not meet college performance standards.2 The bottom line is our public schools are not adequately preparing some college bound students for the rigors of higher education.

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FEBRUARY 26, 2010

Omaha is at a Crossroads

 

By Bob Zabawa
Former President of
Nebraska Taxpayers Association

Omaha is at a crossroads. Our City leaders can take the easy pathway and raise property taxes or honestly deal with some obvious long-term employment issues.

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FEBRUARY 17, 2010

Virtual Education Benefits All of Nebraska

 

By Anne Duda
Senior Policy Analyst

Technology has transformed everything in our daily lives. We carry cell phones in our pockets and GPS mapping equipment in our tractors, but yet, we in Nebraska have not fully allowed technology into our school systems.  Despite computers being a staple in almost every classroom, they are not being used to their full potential.  If technology were properly integrated then students in Cozad and Louisville would be able to take Arabic and Cantonese along with all thirty-seven Advanced Placement (AP) classes.  There should be no reason students in Lexington and McCook do not have the same opportunities as students in Millard or Lincoln.

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