Economic Vitality and Education in the South, Part II: Projections for a Post-Pandemic South (EVES II)
A Defining Moment for Education in the South
Southern Education Foundation has released Economic Vitality and Education in the South, Part II: Projections for a Post-Pandemic South (EVES II), a new analysis of education and workforce systems across 17 Southern states.
EVES II finds that disparities in access, affordability, and workforce alignment have deepened in the years following the pandemic. Early learning remains underfunded, K–12 schools face widening funding gaps and persistent teacher shortages, college affordability continues to strain families, and HBCUs and community colleges remain under-resourced despite their proven impact.
The report makes clear that strengthening education systems and aligning resources with evidence-based strategies are essential to developing the workforce our nation depends on.
If we fail to act, we risk preparing too few students for a rapidly changing economy. The time for evidence-based action is now.