Between 1980 and 2005, earnings for young adults increased when education level increased.

For example, those with at least a bachelor's degree consistently had higher median earnings than those with less education. This pattern generally held for gender and ethnic subgroups.

Moreover, the difference between the earnings of those with at least a bachelor's degree and those with less education grew during this period. In 1980, men with a bachelor's or higher degree earned 19 percent more than men who had completed just a high school education. In 2005, men holding at least a bachelor's earned 64 percent more than men with just high school diplomas.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. The Condition of Education 2007 report

EDUCATION FACT 1

Between 1995 and 2005, the percentage of students with disabilities spending 80 percent or more of the school day in a general classroom showed an overall increase from 45 percent to 52 percent.

Source: Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education

EDUCATION FACT 2

Between 1997 and 2005, the number of students taking AP exams more than doubled to about 1.2 million.

Source: Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education