The Obama administration is expected to unveil a proposal to channel more money&mdash$12 billion—into the nation’s community college, to pay for everything from construction to the development of online courses, according to the Washington Post.
We’re a K-12 publication, and this is at least partly a K-12 story. Supporters of community colleges have always touted them as a bargain, compared to four-year schools, and they say that their role is especially crucial in this dire economy. It can be tough to graduate from four-year universities for reasons that have nothing to do with academic achievement; students often struggle to gain access to the classes they want, for instance. Community colleges allow students to pick up credits and skills and transfer when they’re ready. They’re also a major entry point for many students with a strong interest in career-and-technical education.
Obama seems intent on elevating the role of these two-year institutions. What impact do you see these initiatives having on high school students?