In his continuous quest to finish what he came to do, President Obama now aims to make the first two years of college free - for millions of Americans. In his new plan, revealed on Thursday, community college tuition will be funded by the federal government (75%) and by individual states (25%).
LA Times reports: The investment would make two years of college “the norm” policy advisor Cecelia Munoz said, a disruption of traditional higher education that comes as average tuition at a public four-year college has gone up more than 250% over the last three decades, according to government figures.
The community college proposal echoes one of Obama’s favorite themes: empowering the middle class through education and opportunity. He sees the decline in state funding for higher education as a major barrier to those aspiring to the middle class.Obama’s proposal would make two years of community college “as free as high school for responsible students,” Munoz told reporters, saving a full-time community college student an average of $3,800 in tuition per year. Obama also plans to propose a new fund to pay for high-quality technical training programs.
Tennessee’s program is already in place in a state with a Republican governor. “This is a proposal with bipartisan appeal,” she said.
Here's a little tidbit of informaton. The Tennessee free tuition program was
first introduced by a Democrat. Former TN Governor, Phil Bredesen, proposed the bill, and it was shot down (blocked, obstructed, gerrymandered…) only to appear as a Republican idea when the next governor took office. (I know. I can be a trouble maker.)
Some will immediately slam this plan, and say it will never pass. Others like myself, believe, it's a start. Seven other countries now offer free college education (even to Americans) including France, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Brazil, and Slovenia (yes, even Slovenia). In other words, it's time. It's the perfect time for Americans to make higher education accessible, affordable, and finally - a priority. The Republican Congress would do well to work with the president on this plan. (That's all I'm going to say.)
In this video, President Obama enthusiastically speaks about the free tuition plan:
For more written information about the plan, visit
Whitehouse.Gov
Thank you, Kossack Windsong, who also covered the story on Thursday.)