Twenty years ago, a high school diploma was a ticket to the middle class. Now, the year after they graduate, a person with a high school diploma can expect to make only $16,000 a year, and 99 percent of the new jobs created after the recession went to someone with a college degree.

The Florida Higher Education Coordinating Council (HECC) is hoping to boost the number of Floridians with postsecondary education — industry certificates, Associate of Arts and Sciences, and baccalaureate degrees — by teaming up with local-level education and business partners. According to Florida College System Chancellor Madeline Pumariega, 47 percent of adults in Florida ages 25 to 64 have attained a postsecondary education. HECC’s goal is to have that number reach 55 percent by 2025 through an initiative called Rise to 55.

Rise to 55 will focus on four specific areas, namely the K-12 system and tech centers; state colleges with certifications and associate’s degrees; universities and four-year programs; and migration, or attracting people with postsecondary education to come live in Florida.

Read the full article about Rise to 55's efforts at helping more Floridians earn postsecondary degrees by Eryn Dion at Panama City News Herald.