http://www.clasp.org/issues/topic_in_focus.xml?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0003 In Focus articles from the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) en-us Thu, 23 May 2013 05:11:28 -0500 info@clasp.org webmaster@clasp.org 40 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0094 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0094 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0088 This week, two FY14 budget proposals emerged from Congress that presented contrasting paths for education and economic opportunity in the nation. Rep. Paul RyanaEUR(TM)s budget, once again titled Path to Prosperity, echoes similar themes from last yearaEUR(TM)s House budget, slashing critical higher education investments and cutting access to college for millions of low-income students. These and other draconian cuts are starkly different from Senator MurrayaEUR(TM)s proposed budget, Foundation for Growth, which improves college affordability and makes smart investments in postsecondary education to ensure that U.S. students and workers have the skills and education needed to support continued economic growth. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0088 Mon, 18 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0062 On June 14, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the FY 2013 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill that sets funding levels for key education and training programs. Importantly, the bill also includes an amendment that would restore financial aid eligibility for some students without a high school diploma or its equivalent who are able to demonstrate their ability to benefit from college-level coursework. The provision would allow this eligibility only for ATB-eligible students who are enrolled in career pathway programs, a program model which CLASP has long-supported. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0062 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0059 Last week, the U.S. Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services released a joint letter of support demonstrating their shared commitment to career pathways as a key strategy to improve the number of adults and youth obtaining postsecondary and industry-recognized credentials. CLASP has long supported career pathways as an evidence-backed strategy to expand economic opportunity and access to marketable credentials for low-income workers at all skill levels, and is pleased to see the federal government reinforce the effectiveness of this approach. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0059 Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0058 After July 1, 2012, newly enrolled college students without a high school diploma or secondary school equivalent will no longer be eligible for federal student aid, due to the elimination of the aEURoeAbility to BenefitaEUR? (AtB) options by Congress in December 2011. Two new CLASP resources released this week lay out the facts of the issue and explain why reinstatement of the provision is essential for maintaining access to education and training for low-income, low-skilled students. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0058 Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0055 The U.S. Census Bureau released five new data reports on Thursday of this week that illustrate the progress we have made toward building a more educated workforce. For the first time, more than 30 percent of U.S. adults over age 25 had a bachelor's degree or higher, a 5 percentage point increase from only a decade ago when just a quarter did. This is a significant milestone as a greater number of jobs in the recovering economy likely will demand at least some education beyond high school. Despite an increasing percentage of higher-educated workers, we have a long way to go in terms of ensuring that the promise of a better future through postsecondary education is available to students of all ages, races and income levels. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0055 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0050 The Fiscal Year 2012 appropriations bill that Congress recently passed will make it more difficult for the lowest-income students to access postsecondary education and gain the skills and credentials they need to support their families and contribute to the economy. The bill, simply put, is the wrong direction. It reduces funding for Pell Grants and workforce investments, in spite of increasing need. And it fails to protect students' eligibility for student aid, creating educational dead ends for the most vulnerable students. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0050 Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0048 An exciting new opportunity announced by the U.S. Department of Education to "test" the use of Pell Grants for short-term vocational training programs may make it easier for career pathways and similar initiatives to leverage Pell Grant funding. The experiment aims to determine if Pell Grant funding for short-term vocational training programs increases employment rates and/or wages of unemployed or underemployed individuals. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0048 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0045 A draft appropriations bill released by the U.S. House Appropriations Committee on Sept. 29 significantly harms Pell Grant students by slashing $44 billion from the program over 10 years, putting in jeopardy the maximum Pell Grant, and making drastic changes to eligibility. These proposed changes threaten low-income studentsaEUR(TM) ability to access and succeed in higher education. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0045 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0042 To highlight the importance of adult education programs, CLASP and other national organizations are participating in the third annual National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. Throughout the week, we will feature programs that help low-skilled adults prepare for postsecondary education, career advancement, and employment in a family-sustaining career. In Wisconsin, over 40 colleges, as part of the Wisconsin RISE initiative, have developed "career pathway bridge" programs that provide basic skills or English language services jointly with occupational skills training to lower-skilled students. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0042 Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0041 While all workers across the country have experienced near-record levels of unemployment, low-income, low-skilled workers have been hit the hardest. Education remains one of the most significant factors in getting a good job and advancing in the workforce. For workers without a high school diploma, the unemployment rate is 14.3 percent. For their higher-educated peers with a bachelor's degree or more, unemployment is only 4.3 percent. To address this disparity, President Obama's American Jobs Act establishes a $5 billion Pathways Back to Work Fund, which includes support for "integrated education and training"- a promising instructional model that many states and local areas are already using to help adult education students earn meaningful postsecondary credentials. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0041 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0038 In the midst of the recession, more than 8 million adults and dislocated workers were served by programs under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). More than half went on to find jobs and many others participated in services to increase skills and job readiness. More than 25 national organizations are coming together to raise awareness and maintain this necessary investment in workforce development programs. The efforts are culminating with the National Workforce Week of Action Aug. 15 to 19. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0038 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0036 The national discourse on deficit reduction has shifted to how much to cut from domestic programs, a decidedly narrow focus that wrongly makes programs that benefit low-income people a ripe target. Among the targets for deep cuts is the Pell grant program. Several of the proposed cuts will disproportionately harm nontraditional and underserved students, including low-income adults and out-of-school youth. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0036 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0034 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0034 Thu, 26 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0033 Not all degrees are worth the same - or sometimes anywhere close. That's the finding in a new report from Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce, What's it Worth? The Economic Value of College Majors. The report will be a valuable tool for helping students who are exploring career options understand the difference in earnings potential between majors. Hopefully it will lead to deeper analysis of associate degrees, certificate programs, and non-degree credentials in the future. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0033 Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0032 On May 11, 2011, the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce to the Committee on Education and Workforce in the U.S. House of Representatives held a hearing on removing inefficiencies in the nation's job training programs. CLASP's Director of Workforce Development, Evelyn Ganzglass testified before the committee on the steps Congress should take to create a more coherent and effective workforce system. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0032 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0030 The U.S. House 2012 budget proposal released last week took aim at critical education, workforce development and other opportunity-promoting programs while notably sparing generous tax cuts for the wealthy households and ignoring revenue generating tools. The Pell grant program is one of the targets for cuts. Although the proposal specifics are vague, the stated reasons for cutting the program are clear - and misguided. As the full House weighs the proposal, it should consider what impact deep program cuts will have on students trying to get education to be more marketable in our increasingly competitive economy. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0030 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0029 By Oct. 29, 2011, every postsecondary school that participates in federal financial aid programs will have to post a net price calculator on their websites to give students a broader picture of the true price of attendance. In mid March, the federal Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance held a hearing on net price calculators and the barriers to access and persistence faced by non-traditional students. Dr. Sandy Baum, an advisory committee member for CLASP's Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success gave testimony that linked both topics. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0029 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0028 Research shows that a significant percent of low-income students who are eligible for student aid don't take the required steps to access it. One way to ensure more of these students complete postsecondary education is to provide support in navigating the state and federal financial aid process. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0028 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0027 Beyond Basic Skills lays out strategies to help state policymakers strengthen connections between basic skills education and postsecondary education, which would open up postsecondary education to many lower-skilled adults and out-of-school youth. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0027