Part of economic development is addressing educational inequity

For decades, the ticket to success has been post-grad education. Michael Hicks, a leading economist from Ball State University, sums it up well with the phrase “education is the path to a middle-class life.” This doesn’t mean that those who head straight into the workforce can’t be successful. I’m a strong believer in choosing the path that’s best for you. However, I can’t deny that jobs requiring degrees usually offer higher pay, consistent wage growth and more security. There are other ways to achieve middle-class life, but the attainment of a college degree is the most likely path to that outcome.& Unfortunately, Hoosier students are moving away from degrees. Indiana’s college-going rate has plummeted& from 65% to only 53%& since 2015. COVID-19 has exacerbated the problem, and the cost of schools is another deterrent. We’ve discussed this issue, but we’ve missed a key component: our Black students. College enrollment is dropping across the board, but the decline is more severe among students of color. The college-going rate for Black students has dropped& shockingly low to 44%. There’s been some progress through the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus with auto-enrollment for the 21st Century Scholars Program. But more should be done, especially...