In January’s issue of the NEA Today magazine, there’s a disturbing story about the rising debt levels of college graduates. The story states:

“Today, two-thirds of four-year college graduates leave with student loan debt, compared with less than a third just 10 years ago, according to the State Public Interest Research Group’s Higher Education Project. And they carry twice as much debt as they did 10 years ago, too.”

The story goes on to discuss the challenges that new teachers face in repaying this skyrocketing debt. Facing upwards of $20,000 of debt, making monthly payments on those student loans often requires new teachers to pick up second jobs. With starting salaries for teachers around $34,000, these dedicated professionals may face a lifetime of debt. We have to stop the downward slide of school employee salaries in this state to keep the best and brightest working with our children.

But the rising cost of college doesn’t only affect new teachers. College graduates in all careers face the reality that this massive debt is an increasing barrier to buying a home, saving for the future, and realizing middle-class financial success.

At both the state and federal levels, we need to do more to control the cost of college. The state needs to meet its funding obligations to higher education – state funding has slipped 10.5 percent since 2000 (according to www.mitaxtruth.com). And in Washington, we need to invest more in student loan and grant programs. As our state and national leaders seek real, long-term economic solutions, nothing is more important than investing in education and ensuring that all students can afford to go to college and get the training they need for 21st century jobs.