Education is one of the best ways to ensure someone’s economic success. There is a direct negative correlation between the percentage of people living in poverty and the percentage of people with a post secondary degree, as degrees tend to allow people access to higher paying jobs. Kentucky is well aware of this trend, and has therefore made it a goal to have 60% of Kentucky’s population hold a post secondary degree by 2030. This is an aggressive goal, given that the number of degree holders in Kentucky has declined by 40% in the last ten years. There are 1.4 million adults in Kentucky without a post secondary credential, and two-thirds of this population have never attended college.
There are many factors that are preventing adult learners from pursuing an education, leading to a 4x decrease in likelihood for adult learners to complete their education compared to high school graduates. Adult learners have many more life commitments compared to their younger counterparts, including work and familial obligations. The limited amount of inexpensive child care that is available, including within Kentucky, makes it nearly impossible for a mother or father to justify leaving their child behind for classes. Adult learners also struggle to attend regularly scheduled classes if they are working full time, and often require flexible academic schedules to earn their degree. All of these factors impact the success rates of adult learners, but Kentucky is determined to combat these barriers and help their population become more educated in the next few years.
