Supporting Student Success in the Higher Education Act

Too often, the promise of a college degree and job training, gateways to the American dream, isn't being realized. Part of the problem is that we don't do enough to help students succeed during and after their education, and many non-traditonal students (like laid-off workers) have trouble accessing it in the first place.

A new version of the Higher Education Act, which lays down the rules for some of biggest education and training programs, could go far in addressing these problems. Both the House and Senate have passed their version of the new Higher Education Act, and negotiators are ironing out the differences between them. Some important programs in the House version but not in the Senate version, however, may not make it into the final bill. For a quick summary of what's at stake, see this sign-on letter.

Everyone can help put these programs into action and make the promise of a college education real. You could contact Amy-Ellen Duke (aduke@clasp.org) to sign on your organization to the letter (the deadline is tomorrow at close of business). And you can call or email members of these House and Senate committees and ask them to support the new programs in the House bill.