April is Community College Month! This blog explains how the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship Act supports students who attend community colleges.
Postsecondary education is essential to secure good jobs. However, low-income people—particularly people of color—struggle simply to access postsecondary programs. Many have unmet financial need, as well as work and family obligations, that makes attendance challenging. Additionally, low-income people often have limited education opportunities and consequently low basic skill levels, including math and English. This leaves them unprepared for postsecondary opportunities and traps them in low-wage work. CLASP advocates for federal, state, and local policies that help adults improve their basic skills, access and complete postsecondary education, and succeed in a competitive labor market.
The Pell grant program is a powerful tool to help low-income people access postsecondary education that leads to good jobs. This year, the program will help an estimated 7.1 million students attend school, reduce unmet financial need, and complete their degrees.
