New England states are facing a demographic shift in which their young people increasingly are leaving the region for a higher education and then settling elsewhere after graduation.
So the states are cooperating with the New England Board of Higher Education in an effort known as College Ready New England to help reverse the trend.
The effort aims to work with the region’s governors and lawmakers on ways of better preparing young people for college.
It also wants to boost enrollment at New England institutions and raise graduation rates.
All six states have committed to the goals of College Ready New England, although how to achieve the goals is being left to each individual state.