Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) offered an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization that will encourage greater college access for low-income students by allowing them to earn college credits in high school. By providing students the opportunity to simultaneously pursue a high school diploma while earning college credits tuition-free, early college high schools and dual and concurrent enrollment programs improve secondary and postsecondary outcomes for students.
“There is no greater way to ensure a young person’s future success than a college degree,” said Coons. “Unfortunately, far too many low-income students are unable to complete a college degree because of hurdles outside their control – from high costs to complex application processes. By improving access to programs that make college more affordable and accessible, like dual and concurrent enrollment and early college high schools, more students will be able to achieve the education they need for a bright future.”
“Too many low-income students face obstacles when deciding whether to pursue a college education,” Portman stated. “Our amendment will allow these students to get a head start on college courses in high school, therefore improving their chances of completing a college degree. This is an important part of helping students be prepared for college so that they can eventually go on to graduate and have successful careers.”
Despite recent increases in the nation’s high school graduation rate, the number of graduating students who place into remedial coursework in college is at a record high and more than 3.5 million jobs remain unfilled because employers cannot find workers with the necessary skills. The educational demands of the workforce are growing, and by 2018, two-thirds of the nation’s jobs will require at least some postsecondary education. The federal government must help states and districts tackle these challenges by ensuring increased access to high quality accelerated coursework that gives high school students a leg up on postsecondary education.