New study shows California's deteriorating educational status
By Connie Llanos, Staff Writer
Updated: 01/07/2009 04:42:33 PM PST

California, once regarded as a leader in the nation for its public higher education system, is quickly dropping in the ranks, according to a report released today by the California Faculty Association.

In its investment in public higher education and college degree attainment, the state ranks near the bottom among all 50 states.

California ranked 49th in the country for its number of adults with at least a high school diploma and 46th for the number of 19 year olds enrolled in college.

And over the last three decades the state's investment in public higher education has also dropped and now ranks 22nd in the country despite having the nation's largest public higher education system.

"It's a collapse, folks," said Tom Mortensen, author of the report entitled "California at the Edge of a Cliff: The Failure to Invest in Public Higher Education is Crushing the Economy and Crippling our Kids' Futures."

"This is a staggering commentary on this state's commitment to higher education."

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