My colleague Debra Viadero has an interesting post on her blog today about a new report that examines colleges’ graduation rates. The study by the American Enterprise Institute lays out some gory details about how colleges are doing and suggests that parents, teachers, and guidance counselors take them into account when considering college choices.
With the intense national focus on making more Americans college graduates, this report puts an uncomfortable spotlight on colleges that might not be up to the task. As policymakers debate ways to boost attainment, I wonder how much finger-pointing will be aimed at high schools—"you sent us poorly prepared students!"—and how much will be aimed at the colleges themselves for their support of students once they come onto campus?