Our View

Our View

Putting achievement, accountability first in Arkansas’ education system

It has been repeatedly pointed out the enormous investment Arkansas spends on its education at all levels, particularly when it comes to public tax funding of the state’s colleges and universities.

The biggest question that has been raised is Arkansas reaping the anticipated successes based on the investment?

Well, let’s look at some of the facts based on a recently published online analysis from Arkansas Business and written by Gwen Moritz. Among the academia it is generally acknowledged runaway inflation is having a tremendous impact on the state’s massive education infrastructure that is being supported by a collegegoing population. For example, tuition at the state’s 10 public four-year universities increased an average of 24.1 percent between the fall of 2011 and the fall of 2016 to just shy of $8,000 a year.

But, more alarming are the state’s disturbing higher educational statistics. The fact is Arkansas has invested more tax dollars in higher education than most states and yet has fewer college graduates to show for it.

A recent annual report on higher education finance underscores every single trend for public education such as: –Arkansas’ enrollment is down by 7.7 percent in the previous five years, a bigger decline than the national average.

–Adjusted for inflation, Arkansas’ tax appropriations were down by 5.2 percent between fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2016, much more than the national average of 0.4 percent.

–Despite the average investment ($1.03 billion in fiscal 2015) it can’t be argued the return has been very disappointing: –Arkansas’ universities have the lowest rates of college completion–39.7 percent after six years. Only Alaska and the District of Columbia have lower sixyear completion rates.

The number of Arkansans who have a bachelor’s degree or higher is certainly nothing to brag about.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 21.1 percent of Arkansas residents who are at least 25 years old have a bachelor’s degree. Only Mississippi and West Virginia have lower rates.

Meanwhile, the Census Bureau reported that the national degree-holding rate had reached 33.4 percent last year.

The biggest benefactors of our higher education system are clearly the chancellors, professors and staff where salaries and benefits exceed six figures. In fact, the state’s total education budget is second only to the Department of Human Services, which represents millions upon millions of dollars dealing with the needs of the state’s poorest residents.

For years, politicians have, and continue, to champion education and are very sympathetic to the wants and wishes of the academic community which, based on scores of studies and reports, falls short of expectations.

Nevertheless, Gov. Asa Hutchinson has made academic achievement a serious priority and has taken noticeable steps to make higher education accountable something that heretofore has been somewhat elusive.