Should States Provide Two Years of Debt-Free Community College?

What’s the story?

• House Democrats have introduced a bill that would require states to provide two years of community college tuition-free.
• The Aim Higher Act is focused on minimizing student debt, simplifying financial aid procedures, and boosting graduation rates.
• In exchange for federal funding, states would agree to “reinvest in higher education.”
•  “This is a common sense, comprehensive bill that works for the young people of this country,” said Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island.

“It increases investments in financial aid and make the majority of Pell grant funding mandatory and creates new incentives that will offer states to offer two-years of tuition-free community college - as we’ve already done in my state of Rhode Island.”

• The legislation also promises to “crack down on predatory for-profit institutions that target students and veterans with expensive, low-quality programs” and to protect and expand the “Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which is eliminated in the GOP PROSPER Act.”

The GOP PROSPER Act

• The Aim Higher Act is a counter to the Republicans’ PROPSER Act.
• The Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and Prosperity through Education Reform Act outlines reforms to student loans, credit hour definitions, and federal work study programs.
• Supporters of the GOP legislation maintain the reforms will give rise to creativity and innovation in programs offering students post-secondary degree programs. Critics fear that a rollback of regulations focused on reining in abuses by for-profit colleges will leave students vulnerable to exploitation.

Criticisms of the Aim Higher Act

• Robert Kelchen, assistant professor of higher education at Seton Hall University in New Jersey, told the Washington Post that in many states, lawmakers divert higher education funds to other enterprises where spending is required.

"Taking away that flexibility would be a nonstarter in many states,” Kelchen said.

What do you think?

Do you support the Democrats' Aim Higher Act or GOP's PROPSER Act? How would the Democrats pay for their program? What's important to you in a higher education bill? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: artisteer / iStock)