What helps community college students stay in college? Connections with others, engaging instructors, support services, and clarity about their academic goals and what they need to achieve them.

A new report from the Center for Community College Student Engagement shares the experiences of community college students and the supports they say can keep them on track to a degree. 

Photo: University of Pittsburgh School of Education

Even as some current teachers are leaving the education workforce—or, at the very least, considering it—plenty of would-be teachers are opting for other career paths, creating a worrisome landscape now and in the future. 

One fledgling effort, based out of Pittsburgh, aims to reinvigorate the current educator workforce while also looking ahead to build a pipeline of enthusiastic eventual educators. And in this case, the work is specifically focused on Black educators.

The college price tag remains a primary obstacle for young adults who do not attend or complete college, but it is not the only barrier to overcome. 

A just-released report says students want additional support, including programs that fit around their schedules, free laptops, internet access, the availability of academic counselors to help them navigate which classes to take, and career counselors to aid in their job search.