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<p>&ldquo;Our transforming economy requires that we provide every student the opportunity to obtain a postsecondary degree or certificate,&rdquo; according to a fact sheet from the White House. &ldquo;Today, 70 percent of jobs are held by people with more than a high school (diploma). American workers need and deserve additional support to build their skills, increase their earnings, remain competitive, and share in the benefits of the new economy.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tuition-free community college is a cornerstone of the proposal. If Congress passes the plan, some provisions, like increased Pell Grants, could take effect quickly, while others would take years to phase in. Some of the key highlights of the proposal that would impact community colleges and students include:</p>

<p><strong>EDUCATION</strong></p>

<p><strong>Community college</strong><br />
&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>Offering two years of tuition-free community college to all Americans</strong>, including DREAMers and current workers seeking to gain new skills. Students would be able to use the benefit over three years or, in some cases for part-time students, up to four years if needed.</p>

<p>The Biden administration estimates 5.5 million students would pay $0 in tuition if all states and territories participate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>&nbsp;Increasing the maximum Pell Grant award</strong> by $1,400 to total $7,895.<br />
Currently, the maximum Pell Grant for the 2021-22 school year is set at $6,495.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The plan calls the cap increase &ldquo;a down payment on President Biden&rsquo;s commitment to double the maximum award.&rdquo; Under the plan, DREAMers would be able to access Pell Grants.</p>

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>Providing funding for evidence-based strategies to increase completion and retention rates</strong> at colleges and universities that serve high numbers of low-income students. Funding would go to colleges that adopt innovative, proven solutions for student success, including:</p>

<ul>
<li>wraparound services ranging from child care and mental health services to faculty and peer mentoring;</li>
<li>emergency basic needs grants;&nbsp;</li>
<li>practices that recruit and retain diverse faculty;&nbsp;</li>
<li>transfer agreements between colleges; and&nbsp;</li>
<li>evidence-based remediation programs.</li>
</ul>

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>Increasing scholarships for future teachers</strong>.<br />
Scholarships for future teachers, including early childhood educators, would double from $4,000 to $8,000 per year.</p>

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>Addressing the growing teacher shortage and teacher diversity</strong> by improving K-12 teacher education and training as well as strengthening pipelines for teachers of color.</p>

<p><strong>Universal Pre-K</strong><br />
&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>Providing free, high-quality prekindergarten to 3- and 4-year-olds</strong> for families of all income levels to set children up for success in school.</p>

<p><strong>CHILD CARE</strong><br />
&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>Capping how much low- and middle-income families spend on child care</strong>, based on a sliding scale.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lower-income families&rsquo; costs would be fully covered, while families earning up to 1.5 times their state&rsquo;s median income would pay no more than 7 percent of their income on high-quality care for children under age 5.</p>

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>Ensuring high-quality child care</strong>.<br />
Child care providers would receive funding to cover the true cost of quality early childhood care and education, including a developmentally appropriate curriculum, small class sizes, and supportive classroom environments that are inclusive of children with disabilities.</p>

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>Supporting early childhood care providers and educators</strong>.<br />
The plan calls for a $15 minimum hourly wage and professional development opportunities for early childhood care staff and educators.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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MCC Daily Tribune

Some of the Key Highlights of President Biden's American Families Plan

Last week, President Biden laid out a $1.8 trillion American Families Plan cast as investing in an inclusive economy that would help millions of Americans gain the skills and the work flexibility they need to achieve economic mobility in the 21st century. The plan seeks to expand access to education, reduce child care costs, alleviate poverty and systemic inequities, and strengthen the nation’s global competitiveness. 

“Our transforming economy requires that we provide every student the opportunity to obtain a postsecondary degree or certificate,” according to a fact sheet from the White House. “Today, 70 percent of jobs are held by people with more than a high school (diploma). American workers need and deserve additional support to build their skills, increase their earnings, remain competitive, and share in the benefits of the new economy.” 

Tuition-free community college is a cornerstone of the proposal. If Congress passes the plan, some provisions, like increased Pell Grants, could take effect quickly, while others would take years to phase in. Some of the key highlights of the proposal that would impact community colleges and students include:

EDUCATION

Community college
    Offering two years of tuition-free community college to all Americans, including DREAMers and current workers seeking to gain new skills. Students would be able to use the benefit over three years or, in some cases for part-time students, up to four years if needed.

The Biden administration estimates 5.5 million students would pay $0 in tuition if all states and territories participate. 

    Increasing the maximum Pell Grant award by $1,400 to total $7,895.
Currently, the maximum Pell Grant for the 2021-22 school year is set at $6,495. 

The plan calls the cap increase “a down payment on President Biden’s commitment to double the maximum award.” Under the plan, DREAMers would be able to access Pell Grants.

    Providing funding for evidence-based strategies to increase completion and retention rates at colleges and universities that serve high numbers of low-income students. Funding would go to colleges that adopt innovative, proven solutions for student success, including:

  • wraparound services ranging from child care and mental health services to faculty and peer mentoring;
  • emergency basic needs grants; 
  • practices that recruit and retain diverse faculty; 
  • transfer agreements between colleges; and 
  • evidence-based remediation programs.

    Increasing scholarships for future teachers.
Scholarships for future teachers, including early childhood educators, would double from $4,000 to $8,000 per year.

    Addressing the growing teacher shortage and teacher diversity by improving K-12 teacher education and training as well as strengthening pipelines for teachers of color.

Universal Pre-K
    Providing free, high-quality prekindergarten to 3- and 4-year-olds for families of all income levels to set children up for success in school.

CHILD CARE
    Capping how much low- and middle-income families spend on child care, based on a sliding scale. 

Lower-income families’ costs would be fully covered, while families earning up to 1.5 times their state’s median income would pay no more than 7 percent of their income on high-quality care for children under age 5.

    Ensuring high-quality child care.
Child care providers would receive funding to cover the true cost of quality early childhood care and education, including a developmentally appropriate curriculum, small class sizes, and supportive classroom environments that are inclusive of children with disabilities.

    Supporting early childhood care providers and educators.
The plan calls for a $15 minimum hourly wage and professional development opportunities for early childhood care staff and educators.
 

Rosanna Yule
Government and Community Relations
05/06/2021