This month, tens of thousands of graduating seniors across North Texas are preparing to take their next steps into the world. Although it’s an exciting time, it’s also one of stress and uncertainty. These students are graduating amid a steep decade-long decline in college enrollment, a volatile job market and the potential of recession.
The stakes are high for each individual student — and for our community as a whole. College and career readiness directly impacts our region’s workforce and economy. For graduates, their level of preparation for what comes after high school affects their quality of life, health care access and financial stability.
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas recognizes the importance of college and career readiness, for both new graduates and North Texas in general. The local social change organization has made college and career readiness a key component of its efforts to improve access to education, income and health.
“We know that when students are empowered with a strong education, they are more likely to go on to achieve financial stability, which also supports a lifetime of good health,” says Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton president and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “These three building blocks of opportunity — education, income and health — are the foundation that enables our neighbors in North Texas to thrive.”
Defining college and career readiness
High school graduates are considered college or career ready when they have the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed at a two- or four-year college, in technical school or in a job. Achieving this level of readiness takes years. In fact, education experts agree that the seeds of college and career readiness begin to take root at a young age and grow throughout elementary, middle and high school.
“It takes a significant amount of guidance and support for a student to have the knowledge and abilities to succeed after high school,” says Cathy Lee, director of educational career success at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “And it’s not just about parents, teachers and community organizations ensuring children have book smarts. From an early age, students also need to learn about and be exposed to different college and career options, internships, mentorship and other resources that illustrate the various paths they could take after graduation.”
As the cost of college tuition rises and the job market fluctuates, it is as important as ever for young people to develop the skills necessary to succeed after high school — and to understand the many different opportunities they have to thrive.
The importance of college and career readiness
Every year, graduating seniors in North Texas face the same difficult questions: Are they truly ready for life after high school? Should they apply for college, even though the high cost of tuition is turning many students away? Or should they enter the workforce and hope to work their way up over the years?
These types of decisions have a huge impact on a graduate’s future financial security. Today, 74% of young adults in North Texas don’t earn a living wage. Without that basic level of financial stability, our young neighbors often struggle to pay bills and rent, afford quality health insurance and support their families.
College and career readiness also impacts our region overall. For North Texas to continue its economic success, it needs a skilled workforce that is prepared for the jobs and demands of today’s global economy. And the workforce must include a steady pipeline of qualified workers for our most in-demand careers, such as those in health care, IT and construction.
Consider these statistics: Eighty-five percent of good-paying jobs in North Texas require education beyond a high school diploma, but only 30% of local students are prepared for college or career training that will qualify them for these jobs. Like so much else in our society, this problem is most likely to impact people of color: The rates of college readiness are significantly lower for Black (15%) and Latinx (17%) students compared to their white peers (42%).
For many North Texas students, these challenges begin well before high school. According to a study from the American Educational Research Foundation, students who are both not reading proficiently by third grade and living in poverty are 13 times less likely to graduate from high school on time compared to their proficient, more affluent peers.
To ensure local students are prepared to succeed in college or a career — and to ensure students of color receive equitable opportunity — we as a community must invest in programs and initiatives that give young students a strong start in school, better prepare graduates to earn a living wage, and help build a more diverse workforce.
Preparing students for success
As part of its mission to improve access to education, income and health, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas creates, leads and invests in programs that give students strong pathways to financial security, while also enabling young adults to get and keep better jobs. The nonprofit has set a goal of increasing by 20% the number of young adults in North Texas who earn a living wage by the year 2030. This type of progress won’t only benefit individuals; it will also have an enormous impact on our region as a whole, adding nearly $800 million in wages to the local economy every year.
Understandably, most students don’t intuitively know what they want to do with the rest of their lives. At such a young age, they need exposure and access to the relevant skills, experience and connections that will equip them for a living-wage job with career advancement — helping to ensure long-term financial stability and economic mobility.
“Our programs and partnerships take a holistic approach that enables students to prepare academically, develop social and emotional skills to ensure well-being, and connect with mentors and resources so they graduate ready for the professional workplace,” shares Greg Mangum, vice president of economic mobility at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.
A variety of United Way initiatives directly impact college and career readiness, including:
- Digital Connections, a partnership with AT&T, which provides families in southern Dallas neighborhoods with free laptops, digital literacy training and technology support, encouraging students to engage in online learning and setting them up for success in today’s digital school and job environments.
- Dollars for College, a partnership with Communities Foundation of Texas, which provides easy, low-cost college savings accounts for low-income North Texans, significantly increasing the odds of students attending and completing college.
- Once Upon a Month, a partnership with Ferst Readers and Boone Family Foundation that delivers age-appropriate books to children every month to encourage language development and spark a love of reading. (It’s never too early to prepare a child for college or a career; in fact, researchers have found that children reading on grade level by the end of third grade are five times more likely to be college or career ready than their peers who aren’t reading proficiently.)
- Start Smart Texas, a free text service that gives busy parents the tools to become confident first teachers for their children, including information on child development, social-emotional learning and other skills that help them succeed in preschool, kindergarten and early grades.
Support college and career readiness in North Texas
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas invites all of North Texas to work together to support college and career readiness, both during graduation season and throughout the year.
This May, individuals can volunteer for United Way programs that directly encourage college and career readiness, including a career-attire drive and a networking event for high schoolers.
North Texans are also invited to join United Way of Metropolitan Dallas in supporting initiatives that encourage student success at every grade level, prepare high schoolers for life after graduation, and expose young workers to career opportunities. For example, with each $50 contribution to Dollars for College, donors seed one college savings account for a local student, opening the door to college success, better job opportunities and greater economic mobility.
To sign up for a United Way volunteer opportunity or to donate to United Way and any of its programs, visit unitedwaydallas.org.