This paper lays out an action framework that the higher education leaders, nonprofit advocates, state policymakers, and postsecondary students we gathered during an April 2018 roundtable agree are needed to support the educational success of low-income working students, particularly students of color. It also examines how states must expand their policies beyond the traditional postsecondary landscape to acknowledge the complexity of these students’ lives.
CLASP works to improve employment opportunities for low-income people in two ways. First, we advocate for federal, state, and local policies to improve access to education and training that lead to better-paying jobs. We promote quality create pathways that create bridges between adult basic education, workforce skills training, and postsecondary education. This includes leveraging education and training opportunities in public benefits programs. Second, we seek to improve job quality for low-income workers. That includes increasing wages and providing access to paid sick days, paid family and medical leave, and stable work schedules. This enables low-income people to balance their work, school, and family obligations—promoting economic stability as well as career advancement.
