State lags in college preparation, study shows

States that sign up for the project will focus on:

*Aligning graduation standards to meet those expected by colleges.

*Requiring students to complete a college- and work- ready curriculum.

*Administering college readiness tests.

*Implementing a data-tracking program to follow students from the pre-K level through graduation.

*Instituting an accountability system to provide incentives for continued improvement.

In 2003, 67 percent of jobs required post-secondary education or training, the study said, a number that continues to rise each year.

In 2004, 74 percent of Maryland students graduated from high school, 43 percent started college, but only 19 percent earned a degree, according to the National Center for Higher Education Management.

While Maryland students rise above the national average in high school graduation rates as well as in the percentage of students who start and finish college, the numbers are not where the state leaders want them to be.

Maryland students are not progressing as fast as the top five states in the nation, which increased the number of students receiving degrees by 9 percent over a decade, compared to Maryland’s 6 percent.

There are no penalties for not following Achieve’s recommendations, but so far, 12 states say they’ve aligned with the plan, and 27 more, including Maryland, are in the process of doing so.