With a Republican bill to reauthorize the Higher Education Act (HEA) stalled in the House and elections just around the corner, House Democrats on Tuesday unveiled their own HEA bill that would, in part, encourage states to offer two years of tuition-free community college.
The bill, called the Aim Higher Act, would create a federal-state partnership that would financially encourage states to reverse decades of underfunding public higher education. In exchange for federal funding, states would be required to offer all students two years of tuition-free community college and to maintain investments in public institutions.
Democrats say the bill is designed to keep college affordable and accessible. For example, Democrats note that their bill would provide states with funds to create more early credit pathways — including dual enrollment — and early college high schools to promote a college-going culture and to help reduce college costs.
Democrats even provided a side-by-side comparison to the House GOP bill to reauthorize HEA, called the PROSPER Act, but the bill clearly would come with a heftier funding needs. For example, the bill would significantly increase funding for TRIO program, by $110 million. It also would increase the maximum Pell award by $500 each award year and permanently index the awards to inflation.
Some common ground
Still, some of the proposals could appeal to Republicans. For instance, the Democratic bill would allow Pell grants to be used for short-term certificate programs — something several key Republicans have supported. It also would allow eligible inmates to use Pell grants to earn a college credential as they prepare for their release and to enter the workforce — again an idea that some Republicans have previously indicated that they might support.
Another common ground between the parties: they want to simplify the federal student aid application. The Democrats’ bill would create three pathways for applicants. Those with the lowest income and who have received a means-tested federal benefit over the previous two years would automatically receive a full Pell Grant. Dependent Pell recipients would have to file the federal student aid application only once.
The bill also would make changes to the accreditation process as well as institutional accountability measures. For example, it would require accreditors to include completion and workforce participation as part of their student achievement outcomes.
