Support Affordable Post-Secondary Education in PA — Support the Pennsylvania Promise
PA Legislators
- Thirty-five years of state disinvestment have left Pennsylvania ranked worst in the nation when it comes to higher education, sunk in the rankings by students’ high debt at graduation and the state’s high tuition and fees, according to U.S. News and World Report.
- The state ranks 40th for the share of adults 25-64 with an education beyond high school.
- In over half of Pennsylvania counties (35), the share of adults with more than a high-school degree is lower than in any of the 50 states (i.e., lower than West Virginia’s 48.1%).
- A large body of economic research shows that lagging educational attainment translates to lower wages and incomes for individuals and slower economic growth for regions.
- cover two years of tuition and fees for any recent high school graduate enrolled full-time at one of the Commonwealth’s 14 public community colleges;
- cover four years of tuition and fees for any recent high school graduate with a family income less than or equal to $110,000 per year accepted into one of the 14 universities in the State System of Higher Education;
- provide four years of grants ranging from $2,000 up to $11,000, depending on family income, for students accepted into a state-related University;
- provide grants to Pennsylvanians without a college degree, with priority given to those seeking in-demand skills and industry-recognized credentials (such as apprenticeships), as well as college credit.
The Pennsylvania Promise plan would:
Sponsored by
To:
PA Legislators
From:
[Your Name]
It's time for Pennsylvania to make a real commitment to funding post-secondary education, including college, community college and training/apprenticeship programs. Pennsylvania ranks 47th out of 50 states in per capita funding for higher education. Beyond that, according to U.S. News and World Report, Pennsylvania is ranked worst in the nation when it comes to higher education, sunk in the rankings by students’ high debt at graduation and the state’s high tuition and fees.
The Pennsylvania Promise plan (http://bit.ly/PAPromisePlan) would be a significant step in the right direction.
It would:
- cover two years of tuition and fees for any recent high school graduate enrolled full-time at one of the Commonwealth’s 14 public community colleges;
- cover four years of tuition and fees for any recent high school graduate with a family income less than or equal to $110,000 per year accepted into one of the 14 universities in the State System of Higher Education;
- provide four years of grants ranging from $2,000 up to $11,000, depending on family income, for students accepted into a state-related University;
- provide grants to Pennsylvanians without a college degree, with priority given to those seeking in-demand skills and industry-recognized credentials (such as apprenticeships), as well as college credit.
This is a plan that is good for the PA economy and good for working families. It's time for legislators to step up and support the Pennsylvania Promise plan.