The ProblemAccording to the NCES, nationwide, thirty to sixty percent of college freshmen require remedial courses to meet college entrance requirements (2004). In Texas, 38 percent of Texas students enrolled in two-year colleges and technical schools and 24 percent of students at four-year public institutions took remedial courses during the 2006 academic year (Terry 2007). 28% of colleges in the United States report that students spend at least a year in remedial programs making it impossible to earn a degree in 2 to 4 years (NCES, 2003). These students graduated from high school unprepared to participate in college courses. Unprepared students face both academic and financial obstacles. Not preparing students for courses and careers after high school is expensive. Remedial courses are estimated to cost students a billion dollars a year. Furthermore, according to the ACT, despite participation in remedial courses, students who require remedial courses are significantly less likely to graduate from college (2005). College preparation isn't the only area in which schools fail students. According to Achieve, Inc. (2005), 39% of college graduates say they have gaps in the workforce. When asked about preparing for future jobs, 46% say they have gaps in needed skills. These gaps in the education system will increase when, in the next 10 years, 80% of job opportunities will require education or training above the high school level (Achieve, 2010). A third of jobs will require a bachelor's degree. Low educational attainment is a national problem. Competing countries now boast more workers with associate degrees……half the paper……and spending on professional courses. Their study concluded that more stringent course requirements at the four centers did not reduce the number of professional courses taken by students. Furthermore, the number of students attending professional courses related to IT and health has increased. Increasing graduation requirements have been found to have a positive correlation with students pursuing professional education after graduation. Students in the state with higher graduation requirements produced graduates who were 5% more likely to earn a bachelor's or higher degree. Additionally, higher academic graduation requirements have positively impacted wage rates. Each additional academic course required for graduation resulted in a $423 increase in annual earnings. Bishop and Mane warn that these gains are driven by students in specific occupations involving computers and health care.