The number of students entering court reporting programs has declined over the past several years. Court reporting educators are working hard to continue to attract quality students into their programs, but they are finding that students are not willing to spend approximately 36 months of their life in a program where the only chance for a job is for a student who can write 225 wpm. Students want to be reassured that there are other job opportunities out there for them should they not obtain the high shorthand speeds.

Also, students who find employment in text entry jobs while going to court reporting school discover that the more time they spend writing on the shorthand machine the quicker they move up the speed chart.