The Monitor - Commentary by Greg Abbott on Affordable Higher Education in Texas

Op-Ed

By Greg Abbott

Our graduating high school students -- the future workforce of Texas --must be equipped with both the technical skills and critical thinking skills needed to compete for the jobs growing in Texas today.

The final phase of my four-part Educating Texans Plan focuses on making higher education in Texas more affordable for more families and on reducing the crushing burden of student loan debt. It focuses on getting more students graduating on time -- and on holding public colleges and universities accountable to that goal.

In 2012, more than 19,000 high school students from low-income families in Texas scored a 3 or higher on an Advanced Placement exam, but not every Texas public college and university awards credit. Texas should adopt a statewide policy requiring public colleges and universities to award early college credit for AP scores of 3 or higher. These high school students, already showing college-level competency, could save about $1,000 in tuition per class, lessening the need for grants and loans.

For many high school students and returning adults, community college is the next step up the ladder. But these students sometimes spend an additional year taking courses that don't transfer to a four-year university. We must make core freshman and sophomore courses more consistently transferable between our community colleges and our public colleges and universities. This will save students both time and money.

About half of all college students in Texas attend school part-time while working to pay for their education. To help more students attain an associate degree while working or raising a family, I propose block scheduling for all two-year degree programs. Morning, afternoon and evening blocks make scheduling more predictable for the student and for their employer or childcare provider.

We must also increase online college-level learning opportunities and count successful completion of those courses toward degree requirements. Digital learning allows our college students to progress based on competency rather than just seat time, saving them time and money.

And to ensure we get more students graduating on time with the skills employers need -- and with less debt -- we must hold our public colleges and universities more accountable for the product they deliver. I am calling for a portion of future funding for public four-year institutions be based on outcomes. These measured outcomes should include on-time graduation rates, the number of degrees awarded in critical fields, the cost of degrees and even the employment rate of graduates.

Finally, as governor, my goal is to elevate our national research standings so Texas universities rank as the best in the nation. Making Texas a top research state means we will continue to attract more investments and more businesses. And that means more and better jobs for post-high school graduates. I will jump start the process with a $40 million infusion into the Texas Competitive Knowledge Fund for expanded research and scholarships.

We must help every Texan climb the ladder of success, whether the next step is career and technical training, a community college or a four-year degree program.

We do that by making higher education more affordable for more Texas families, by graduating more students on time and by elevating our colleges and universities to the top ranks in the nation.

For Texas to continue to lead the nation in job creation, we must also lead in education -- from pre-K through grade 12, to college and beyond.

My Educating Texans Plan is the first of many steps to get us there. Read more at www.TexasBlueprint.com.

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