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Running Head: EDUCATION AS WE SEE IT
Education As We See It
Danielle Bryant
AET/510 – Critical Issues and Trends in Adult Education and Training
July 18, 2011
Derrick Morat

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Running Head: EDUCATION AS WE SEE IT
Education As We See It
Introduction
Enrollment for adult education can be very interesting as we view the trend that has
affected the enrollment rate.The three articles will give us a general idea of what percentage of
people dealing with age, race and motives of being enroll in the adult education field. The
articles will also give us a better understanding of how the U.S. rates in education compared to
several countries. With the changes of life and economic hardship, adults have been challenge in
several different ways to provide a stable and loving environment for their children. With the
unemployment rate up and the increase in gas and food, some adults have second guess their
futures and decided to look that the community college for a change of career.
Article Layout
While the community college enrollment has increase, America has a whole is not doing
its best in the education area. For example, America is the only country where the younger
generation is less educated than the younger generation. According to the Report of the National
Commission on Adult Literacy, the U. S. ranks the lowest in the 30 OECD free-market countries
when it comes to education. It is questionable to say that the U. S. has drop the ball, when it
comes to education. In the past, the US was required people to have at least some post-secondary
education and occupational training to prepare them for the global world. Unfortunately, we as
Americans are not prepared for the global world. “With a current U.S. labor force of about 150
million(16 and older), a troubling number of prime working age adults likely will fall behind in
their struggle to get higherwage jobs, or to qualify for the college courses or job training that

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Running Head: EDUCATION AS WE SEE IT
will help them join or advance in jobs that pay a family-sustaining wage” (Report of the National
Commission on Adult Literacy).
Community college is sometime more popular for than the average four year college. It is
convenient for most adults due the accessibility and flexibility of the community college setting.
According to the American Association of Community College, community college is known for
serving over half of the undergraduate students in the United States, which accounts for 6.5
million students. According to America Association of Community College, “Community
colleges are the gateway to postsecondary education for many minority, low income, and first-
generation postsecondary education students.” While the community college is open and
available for all ages, the average community college student is twenty nine years old and two
thirds attend part-time. In North Carolina, the enrollment status is as followed:
41% - Full-time 59% - Part-time
63% - Female 37% - Male
66% - Hispanic 24% - Black
According to the degree attainment chart from the American Association of Community College,
38 percent has obtain their Associate Degree, 39 percent transferred to a four year college and
42 percent obtained a certificate.
According to The Commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics,
Enrollment in U.S. schools is expected to grow in the coming years. From 2008
through 2020, public elementary and secondary enrollment is projected to

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Running Head: EDUCATION AS WE SEE IT
increase to 53 million students. Undergraduate enrollment is expected to increase
from 17.6 million students in 2009 to 20.0 million in 2020. Enrollment in post
baccalaureate programs is projected to increase through 2020 to 3.4 million
students. These increases in enrollment will be accompanied by a growing
diversity of students.
Analysis
According to the text that has been reviewed, we can see that there is a major problem with
education in America. We as Americans are not where we should be according to the statistics
given to us according to the National Commission of Adult Literacy. Even though, the statistics
show that we are behind in education, the community college is still striving to be one of the
most popular educational places for learning. We tend to seek this level of education due to
several reasons, with number one reason, its flexible. We are still moving toward the goal of
improving how one person lives at a time and one family at time.

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Running Head: EDUCATION AS WE SEE IT
References
National Commission on Adult Literacy. Available from: Council for Advancement of Adult
Literacy. 1221 Avenue of the Americas 46th Floor, New York, NY 10020. Tel: 212-512-
2362; Fax: 212-512-2610; Web site: http://www.caalusa.org
Research and Markets: The Survey of Adult & Continuing Education Programs in Higher
Education, 2010 - Spending On Social Networking Sites Such As Facebook Was
Minimal Business Wire (English), 01/24/2011
The Conditions of Education. http://nces.ed.gov/programs. com. Attrieved July 16, 2011.