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The foundation’s education work in the United States is focused on two major initiatives: ensuring that 80 percent of students graduate from high school with the knowledge and skills they need to complete college, and doubling the number of students who earn a postsecondary degree or certificate by age 26.
Ultimately, we are working to help all young people graduate high school with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in life. Our college-ready and postsecondary success strategies are detailed below.
Read remarks from our co-chairs about the foundation’s education strategy:
Bill Gates, November 11, 2008
Melinda Gates, November 11, 2008
William H. Gates, Sr., November 11, 2008
William H. Gates, Sr., February 3, 2009 |
College Readiness for High School Students
With our partners across the country, we have demonstrated that with the right opportunities, the most disadvantaged young people can achieve at high levels. Yet today, only 71 percent of students earn a high school diploma, fewer than six in 10 minority students graduate with their peers, and many graduates are unprepared for college. A core lesson from our work is that we need to dramatically accelerate academic performance to achieve results. We have set an ambitious goal for our work and investments: to help ensure that 80 percent of high school students graduate fully prepared for college, with a focus on low-income and minority young people reaching this target.
The three main components of our college-ready plan support this goal:
- Focus on success at a higher level
- Empower excellent teachers
- Support and engage students
College-Ready Education Plan (Executive Summary)
(2 pages, 699KB, PDF)
College-Ready Education Plan (Complete)
(8 pages, 2.42MB, PDF)
Read Vicki Phillips' speech on the College-Ready success plan, November 11, 2008.
Life Beyond High School: Postsecondary Success
Success in the 21st century demands skills, attitudes, and abilities that require more than a high school diploma. Yet today only about half of all Americans have a college degree or certificate, a number that drops to about 20 percent for Hispanics and African Americans. It is no longer enough to say more young people are accessing college. For the sake of their future and our country’s future, we have to make sure more young people go on to complete college. We have set an ambitious goal for ourselves and the nation: double the number of young people who earn a postsecondary degree or certificate by the time they reach age 26. Our plan for success outlines how we will work to:
- Improve the performance of the postsecondary education system
- Support young adult success
- Encourage U.S. leaders to commit to helping students complete their degrees
Postsecondary Education Success Plan (Executive Summary)
(2 pages, 248KB, PDF)
Postsecondary Education Success Plan (Complete Report)
(12 pages, 3.70MB, PDF)
Read Hilary Pennington’s speech on Postsecondary Success, November 11, 2008.