Education News

The report gives a state-by-state analysis of the benefits of higher education, such as employment, earnings, and public assistance rates.

Students "understand that maybe they need to decide on principles, but we’re not going to tell them what they are," says Old Dominion president Roseann Runte. "We’re not supposed to indoctrinate students. We’re supposed to open their minds."

The rise of these funds — there are at least eight across the USA — comes as more students chase self-employment instead of corporate jobs. More than 500 colleges and universities now have undergrad and graduate entrepreneurship majors, up from as few as 175 in 1990.

The growth also comes when groups such as the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation are trying to broaden diversity in the venture industry.

Elected officials in Wyoming have chosen to invest $500 million into the state’s future through academic scholarships and endowed chairs at the state’s universities and community colleges.

"It helps me gauge what students know on the spot," said Nelson, a Spanish teacher at Coeur d’Alene High School, who was awarded an EXCEL grant last fall for the teaching tool. "The system makes students use multiple senses."

Businesses today are looking for employees with skills beyond traditional programming and IT expertise. "People that can bridge the communication gap between IT people and business partners–they’re valuable but rare to find," says Tracey Nakakura, senior manager of IT at Gap Inc.

High school students cannot do research at this level without adult mentors – often a university professor plus a team of grad students – to pick a topic that will break new ground, yet be manageable, and to supervise them at every step.

"I get to blow things up and hold human brains — can’t ask for a better job," she said.

"I see schools struggle to meet the most basic needs, but there’s not much out there [on the Internet] for science that’s for free," Wheatley says. "This is a very wealthy country, but our students are falling behind the rest of the world in science and technology."

After he retires in May, Mr. Barrett plans to spend more time on initiatives to improve the U.S. education system in order to cultivate future generations of innovators.