The Oakland80 report, “Expanding Post-Secondary Attainment: The Road to Economic Success in Oakland County,” was released on May 8, 2023. The Oakland80 initiative was designed to increase post-secondary educational attainment to 80% in Oakland County by 2030, and the strategies and research in the report will support their work through 2030. This report was authored by Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW), with close partnership from the Oakland80 team and the project’s five guiding committees.
In 2019, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer set a goal to increase Michigan’s adult post-secondary education rate to 60% by 2030. Yet, in Oakland County, 61% of adults already had a college degree or other post-secondary credential in 2019, leading Oakland County and key partners to set a bold goal of 80% adult post-secondary attainment by 2030. To achieve 80% attainment and ensure attainment reflects progress for all Oakland County residents, County Executive David Coulter launched the Oakland80 initiative. Educational attainment after high school can be a key factor in economic opportunity and social mobility as it influences employment status, job quality, and access to jobs protected from automation. This includes both degree programs and short-term credentials. CSW found that while the county overall has high post-secondary attainment, progress has not been consistent for all residents. There were noticeable differences in residents’ educational attainment along racial and ethnic lines as well as where residents reside within the County.
Oakland County partnered with CSW to understand key data on the makeup, needs, and potential barriers facing adult residents without post-secondary education as well as to develop comprehensive, data-informed strategies the Oakland80 partners and stakeholders could pursue to reach their goal. To support the development of a mix of strategies that would address identified disparities through customized solutions for the County, CSW undertook a national scan of best practices. And, through a stakeholder validation process, five strategies were prioritized that Oakland80 can deploy with partners and stakeholders to support equitable post-secondary attainment:
- Accelerate secondary students’ exposure to career exploration
- Support transitions from high school to post-secondary education
- Optimize financial aid utilization for traditional aged students and adults
- Attract and retain students and talent
- Close equity gaps that exist in education and employment
While the research included in this report is tailored to Oakland County residents and their needs, CSW believes that the data and best practice information documented will be beneficial to any region interested in understanding the data they can collect to answer similar questions as well as to understand potential national best practices to leverage.
Report Authors: Megan Elyse Williams, Chris Webb, and Alex Breen
Research Project Team: Megan Elyse Williams, Larry Good, Alex Breen, and Chris Webb
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