Serve All Learners, Keep America Competitive
The bipartisan JOBS Act is a path to success for today’s students
Christian Couric, a Nevada-based pipeline welder, earned his welding certificate and is now making a livable wage with career growth. But, he wasn’t able to use Pell Grants — the affordability lifeline for more than 6.5 million students each year — to pay the $5,600 tuition, only because the courses were 8 weeks, not 15 weeks in length. (Read Anne Kim’s terrific Washington Monthly piece for more of his story.)
Today, an important policy initiative stands to ease the path for Christian and millions of others in similar career situations.
In our 21st century global economy, continued education and training is required to ensure Americans are upwardly mobile and economically successful. More people are learning skills in nontraditional settings that could translate directly to educational credentials. Additionally, with the high number of jobs lost during the pandemic, millions of Americans will have to reskill or upskill to acquire their next job. The connections between higher learning and the workforce must be strengthened so that they are truly integrated pathways. And, those without a credential have been hit the hardest.
At Higher Learning Advocates we have tirelessly advocated for policy change for today’s students. And, we support swift passage of the bipartisan JOBS Act as a solution to increase access to needed programs AND build equitable pathways into further education.
The JOBS Act will enable learners to afford critical training for in-demand jobs, and much more:
The provisions provide Pell Grants to programs at community colleges and other institutions of higher education that meet the growing workforce needs of the community.
These programs must be transferable to other programs at the institution- driving a connected pathway not only into the workforce but to further education for learners.
Providing Pell Grants will equitably increase access to programs; no longer will these programs only be available to those who can self-pay or are already sponsored by an employer.
A few weeks ago the JOBS Act passed the House of Representatives in a competitiveness bill, USICA (along with another incredible provision that will dramatically increase data availability regarding today’s students). This provision — providing students with access to Pell Grants for shorter-term programs — absolutely belongs there. America can not be competitive in a world marketplace unless we are serving all learners. The JOBS Act is not yet law- as the Senate considers USICA in the coming weeks, it is critical that policymakers continue to consider the JOBS Act an essential part of ensuring the country remains economically competitive.
