The postsec-
to 60 percent achieved high scores of 4 or 5.65
seek additional education and training.
Although this group is small and the results
However, providers of traditional postsec-
ondary education
are not statistically significant, they do sug-
ondary education have been slow to adapt to
sector has
gest that the course did successfully prepare
the needs of consumers of adult education:
become increas-
students for the exam. During the
19992000 school year, 600 students were
While adults over 25 represent nearly
ingly important
enrolled in Apex courses; those students
50 percent of our postsecondary stu-
as the need for
came from 137 schools and 10 home school-
dent population, most colleges and
ing families in 28 states.66
universities are still operating in the
skilled workers
For-profit companies are also creating pro-
old education paradigm, set up to
has grown.
grams to train teachers to use technology
serve students age 1822 who are
effectively. Apex Learning, for instance, has
looking for a general education as
teacher-training programs to prepare teachers
well as a "college experience"--foot-
to assist students preparing for AP tests.
ball games, student unions, and fra-
Advantage Learning Systems conducts work-
ternities or sororities. The lack of
shops on Reading Renaissance and Math
convenient education options trans-
Renaissance to teach educators how to use the
lates to opportunity for innovative
company's programs. As of December 1998,
proprietary postsecondary institutions
an estimated 110,000 educators had attended
that can provide a "no nonsense" and
Reading Renaissance training programs.67
"customer" oriented, efficient educa-
Scientific Learning also holds seminars to
tion model that is convenient, accessi-
ble, and relevant in today's world.7 0
teach educators and speech and language pro-
fessionals about developments in brain
research and practical uses for the company's
There are several possible explanations for
products.
why existing public and nonprofit universi-
Products offered by those for-profit com
-
ties may be failing to respond sufficiently to
panies highlight the potential for the devel-
the growing demand for adult education. For
opment and application of technologies that
example, public universities' primary source
of income is state governments, not tuition.71
could facilitate learning and dramatically
improve the nation's skill base.
Since universities do not depend on tuition,
administrators may be slower to respond to a
growing potential client base. Economist
Postsecondary and Adult
Gary Wolfram of Hillsdale College writes:
Education
"Public institutions of higher education do
not generally market themselves, and tuition
policy depends on state appropriations
The postsecondary education sector has
rather than profit maximization. Much has
become increasingly important as the need
been written about the fact that professors
for skilled workers has grown. Already, the
are not rewarded on the basis of their teach-
United States faces labor shortages in critical
ing services."7 2 Many private universities also
sectors of the economy. There are simply not
enough qualified workers to fill the jobs
do not depend solely on student tuition for
available in high-tech industries.6 8 According
financing. For example, at the Kennedy
School of Government at Harvard University,
to a 1998 Coopers & Lybrand "Trendsetter
the dean often reminds students that tuition
Barometer" survey of Fortune 500 CEOs,
payments do not cover the cost of their edu-
approximately 70 percent said they face seri-
ous problems finding skilled workers.6 9
cation. The school draws on an endowment,
built by alumni and other donors. It is likely
The growing demand for skilled workers
that administrators of private universities
has changed the composition of the postsec-
such as Harvard respond to the demands of
ondary education marketplace as more adults
11