President Biden wants $109 billion for two-year colleges, $80 billion addition for Pell Grants, $62 billion for retention and completion efforts and $39 billion for two free years at minority-serving institutions for most students.
Scott Jaschik April 28, 2021
President Biden on Wednesday proposed a plan to make good on his promise for free community college — and much more for higher education.
Included in his American Families Plan is:
- $109 billion for two years of free community college “so that every student has the ability to obtain a degree or certificate.” DREAMer students would be included. “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,” says the plan.
- $80 billion for Pell Grants to increase the maximum grant by $1,400. “While nearly 7 million students depend on Pell Grants, the grant has not kept up with the rising cost of college. Over the last 50 years, the value of Pell Grants has plummeted. The maximum grant went from covering nearly 80 percent of the cost of a four-year college degree to under 30 percent — leading millions of low-income students to take out debt to finance their education,” the plan says.
- $62 billion for a grant program “to invest in completion and retention activities at colleges and universities that serve high numbers of low-income students, particularly community colleges. States, territories, and tribes will receive grants to provide funding 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.”
- $39 billion “that provides two years of subsidized tuition for students from families earning less than $125,000 enrolled in a four-year” historically black college, tribally controlled university or minority serving institution.
- Double scholarships for future teachers from $4,000 to $8,000 per year. The Biden plan also targets $400 million for teacher preparation at minority-serving institutions and $900 million for the development of special education teachers.
President Biden’s plan stresses that the spending will help the economy. “It is not enough to restore where we were prior to the pandemic. We need to build a stronger economy that does not leave anyone behind — we need to build back better. President Biden knows a strong middle class is the backbone of America,” the plan says. “He knows it should be easier for American families to break into the middle class, and easier to stay in the middle class.”
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The plan is likely to face opposition from Republicans in Congress.
Inside Higher Ed will publish a story tomorrow with more details on the plan and its chances in Congress.
