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Because of how each state handles education separately, and the presence of private schools, in the US you have a wide variety of high school outcomes. From kid

by atty 5y ago

Because of how each state handles education separately, and the presence of private schools, in the US you have a wide variety of high school outcomes. From kids that aren’t literate, to kids who could probably earn a bachelors in less than a year, if their high school education was considered in a more holistic fashion. Therefore, university programs that are set up to cater to the largest population possible necessarily aim for the lowest common denominator. And of course there is always the perverse incentive that colleges and universities are paid by the credit, so reducing course loads would probably never make it past the bean counters.

adam_arthur 5y ago
I believe schools should only earn based on percentage of post education wages. Need to think through the exact mechanism, but at least public schools should operate this way. Once college has skin in the game, education would change so fast for the better your head would spin
- Ekaros 5y ago
  I wonder in some cases how far the standards would drop... That would incentivise to pass just about everyone with glowing credentials. Ofc, the employers should wisen up in year or a few... But hey, at that point the cohort is already out making money...
  - adam_arthur 5y ago
    Well, schools have the incentive to do this today, already. Any student they take on is additional revenue, even if they perform horribly/are not qualified. Yet we don't see most schools lowering standards for revenue purposes. But there are always second order effects and perverse incentives to any system. I agree if it were enacted as I stated that outcome could be something along lines of what you're suggesting. Of course, we already have that now with the university of Phoenix type of schools. I meant moreso aligning incentive of school and student. But exact mechanism of implementation would need to be refined to avoid any obvious perverse incentives

by atty 5y ago

adam_arthur 5y ago

I believe schools should only earn based on percentage of post education wages. Need to think through the exact mechanism, but at least public schools should operate this way. Once college has skin in the game, education would change so fast for the better your head would spin

Ekaros 5y ago
I wonder in some cases how far the standards would drop... That would incentivise to pass just about everyone with glowing credentials. Ofc, the employers should wisen up in year or a few... But hey, at that point the cohort is already out making money...
- adam_arthur 5y ago
  Well, schools have the incentive to do this today, already. Any student they take on is additional revenue, even if they perform horribly/are not qualified. Yet we don't see most schools lowering standards for revenue purposes. But there are always second order effects and perverse incentives to any system. I agree if it were enacted as I stated that outcome could be something along lines of what you're suggesting. Of course, we already have that now with the university of Phoenix type of schools. I meant moreso aligning incentive of school and student. But exact mechanism of implementation would need to be refined to avoid any obvious perverse incentives