The Real Cost of Mediocre Education

Yesterday, millions of Americans across the company scrambled to file their tax returns before the midnight deadline in hopes that they’ll receive a substantial refund from the IRS. It was also a day where Americans really thought about all the money they’ve given up to the government or about the places they might spend their refund check. Besides taxes, Americans should also be thinking about the real cost of mediocre education.

From extra remediation classes and lost opportunities due to inadequate skills, Americans are wasting billions of dollars annually.

It’s shocking to know that the amount of time that college students need to spend in remedial courses is rising. From 1995 to 2000, the percentage of colleges reporting that students had to spend at least one year in remedial courses has increased from 28 percent to 35 percent.

Just at the community college level, families spend an additional $283 million to pay for remedial courses every year, and taxpayers foot an extra $978 million. One group estimates that, counting lost productivity from students who take remedial courses, poor preparation for college costs the United States $2.3 billion annually. (Alliance for Excellent Education. (2006). Paying Double: Inadequate High Schools and Community College Remediation. Washington, DC: Author)

This is a problem that we can solve. By implementing real education reform, including common, rigorous standards, effective teachers in our classrooms and giving more time and support for learning, our students will be better prepared for college and no longer be required to waste time or money on remedial classes.