Reps. Fudge and Stefanik Introduce Go to High School, Go to College Act
Press Release
Today, Reps. Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) and Elise Stefanik (NY-21) introduced the Go to High School, Go to College Act. The bill improves secondary and postsecondary outcomes for students and maximizes the efficiency of federal student aid.
"Every eligible high school student should be able to pursue a college education, regardless of income," said Rep. Fudge. "This legislation will expand the Pell Grant program and allow low-income students to get an early start on college despite financial barriers they may face. I am proud to re-introduce this legislation, which invests in our nation's students and helps increase college completion rates across the country."
The Go to High School, Go to College Act, allows students enrolled in postsecondary courses, offered through dual or concurrent enrollment or an early college high school, to access College in High School Pell Grants. The pilot program will support low-income, first generation college students, and those underrepresented in higher education. High school students will be allowed to enroll in college courses and earn transferable college credit, setting them on an accelerated path to postsecondary success.
"Access to higher education is far too often reserved for those whose parents can afford to pay for it," said Rep. Stefanik. "Additionally, completion rates are often directly tied to income status. I'm hopeful that this bipartisan legislation will show students of every income level that college is a worthy and attainable goal. As the first person in my immediate family to graduate college, I know firsthand the difficulties that can arise when finding a school."
Several of the nation's leading educators have expressed support of the Go to High School, Go to College Act:
"Research and experience demonstrate that students who have the opportunity to earn college credits and degrees while still in high school are significantly more likely to enroll in and complete postsecondary education," said Clara Botstein, Associate Vice President at Bard Early Colleges. "Early college high school is an effective, powerful free college approach, but access is currently far too limited. The Go to High School, Go to College Act will allow many more low-income students to access high-quality early college opportunities, increasing postsecondary completion nationwide."
"Students in middle/early college programs are guided through post-secondary degree earning pathways while in high school," said Dr. Cece Cunningham, Executive Director of the Middle College National Consortium. "Our average student completes over 20 credits prior to high school graduation, and many graduate with an associates degree. The support from the Go to High School, Go to College Act is a tremendous opportunity for our first-generation low-income students."
Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) andMark Warner (D-VA) will also introduce similar legislation in the Senate.
The Go to High School, Go to College Act was first introduced by Rep. Fudge and former Rep. Chris Gibson (R-NY) in 2014 and re-introduced with former Rep. John Faso (R-NY) in the 115th Congress.
Click here to view a summary of the Go to High School, Go to College Act.
Source