BOSTON – A report from the National Conference of State Legislatures said Monday that lawmakers should seize the opportunity to lead reform of a U.S. higher education system that no longer is the best in the world.
A 12-member NCSL “Blue Ribbon Commission” said that in dealing with higher education policy-making, legislators react rather than lead.
“Few legislators are experts on higher education nor do they have the knowledge, skills and confidence to be aggressive state leaders on this issue,” stated the report released during the opening General Session of the NCSL annual meeting. “This lack of leadership and expertise is due in large part to increased legislative turnover.”
Among other things, the study said the states and federal government have not ensured that low-income students have access to higher education.
The study panel recommended that legislators define clear goals for universities, identify strengths and weaknesses in the state system and hold institutions accountable for their performance.
“Legislators cannot and should not try to define institutional interests. Rather, clear state goals allow institutions to determine how their interests are served by achieving state goals,” the report stated.
It said statewide discussions should begin with an honest analysis of how the current system is performing.
“One mistake legislators tend to make is borrowing other states’ policy solutions before they know whether their state has similar problems,” the report stated.
The commission recommended states have a system of collecting the data needed to evaluate system performance. “Consider new accountability methods, such as regular reporting to the legislature on specific outcomes, or funding linked to performance,” the study suggested.
The report noted that Governor Jennifer Granholm in 2004 created a commission to double the number of residents with degrees and other postsecondary credentials within a decade.
“The 41-member bipartisan commission developed a set of strategies to support that state goal, including improving preparation, expanding participation, increasing degree completion, and maximizing economic benefits,” the study stated.
IMMIGRATION: Separately, another NCSL report from Monday said that while congressional action on an overhaul of the immigration system is at a standstill, legislators in 41 states have enacted 170 bills on the subject.
The number of enactments this year is more than twice the volume in 2006.
NCSL President Leticia Van de Putte said congressional failure to enact comprehensive immigration reform had forced states to act.
“Since the federal ship has sunk, there have been 50 lifeboats in the water seeking a solution,” Ms. Van de Putte said. “Once again, states have taken the lead on one of the most critical public policy challenges facing our country.”
The NCSL acknowledged that immigration policy is a federal responsibility, but noted the states are directly affected.
This story was provided by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on Gongwer.Com
a>>
