Kentucky is beginning an aggressive initiative to improve the higher education rates among its residents. It is aiming to have 60% of the state’s population hold a post-secondary degree by 2030, hence the name 60×30. Currently, there are about 1.4 million adults in Kentucky without a postsecondary credential, and two-thirds of this population has never been enrolled in college. These numbers are startling, especially because low higher education rates can cause unemployment gaps and a higher rate of poverty throughout the state. The number of adult learners in Kentucky has fallen by 40% in the last decade, demonstrating the urgency for this initiative. 

There are several factors that impact the ability of adult learners to excel in a higher education setting. They often have family obligations that make it very difficult to attend classes at normal times. 48% of adult learners have children, but affordable childcare is very limited throughout the state of Kentucky. Work obligations can also make it very complicated for adult learners to attend regularly scheduled classes, so flexible academic scheduling must be available for part-time and full-time workers. This can include options ranging from nighttime to completely remote classes. These barriers must be addressed in order for Kentucky to meet its goal of educating 60% of its residents at a post-secondary level.