H.R.4212: America's College Promise Act of 2019
Overview
H.R 4212 would create a new federal-state partnership to provide two years of tuition-free access to community or technical college programs.
Specifically, this legislation would:
1) Authorize the appropriation of $91.7 billion of available grants over the next ten years;
2) Provided a federal match of $3 for every $1 invested by the state;
3) Ensure that programs offer academic credits which are fully transferable to four-year institutions in their state, or occupational training that leads to industry-recognized credentials.
This bill would also require the Department of Education to award $11.6 billion of grants over the next ten years to four-year historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions (MSIs) to waive or reduce tuition and fees for up to 60 credits for low-income students. For HBCUs and MSIs to be eligible for these grants they must: (1) enroll a student body that contains at least 35% low-income students; (2) maintain or adopt reforms and practices to improve completion rates and student outcomes; (3) set performance goals; and (4) execute an articulation agreement with community colleges, if accepting transfer students.
S. 2250 is the Senate companion bill.
View Full OverviewTalking Points
- Increased access to higher education is integral to building a more equitable culture
- The cost of community and technical colleges should not be a barrier to success in attaining the skills needed in the 21st Century
- Ensuring that students from low-income communities benefit proportionally from federal higher education policy is crucial in creating economic and social equity in the future
- The National Assembly supports H.R. 4212 because free access to community and technical college is an important step in helping every student achieve their full potential.