During this week’s Twitter town hall meeting, President Obama was asked about education in America. Just as the President’s response shows, access to affordable and quality schooling is an important issue not only for students and families, but for our county’s economy and our future.
Dustin, an Ohio student, asked the President: “"Higher ed is necessary for a stronger economy, but for some middle-class Americans it’s becoming too expensive. What can be done?"
Fortunately for Dustin and others like him, the answer is a lot.
The President explained the work his administration has done to increase Pell Grant scholarships, reform the student loan industry, help with loan repayment, and improve access to community colleges. Here is just some of the President’s progress on education:
Increase and stabilize Pell Grant scholarships. The Obama administration has invested $40 billion into Pell Grant scholarships, more than doubling the size of the program since he took office. Meanwhile, the Republican budget proposal cuts Pell Grants by over 15 percent.
Reduce interest on student loan payments. President Obama directed additional savings to be funneled intothe Federal Direct Student Loan Program, lowering interest rates on student loans and saving $68 billion by 2020.
Improve opportunities at community colleges.The President is collaborating with businesses and community colleges to create opportunities for graduates and provide the training students need to be competitive in a more advanced workforce.
Create “Race to the Top” to encourage excellence.The Obama administration is supporting systemic school reform through the "Race to the Top" program which, among other things, provides support to states to change the way they compensate educators and encourages higher quality teaching, which helps attract and retain the best teachers. The President also initiated the “Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge”to provide healthy competition among America’s High Schools to push each other toward greater achievement.
Prioritize “STEM education.” The President has made Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math education a central focus of his education policy, initiating programs that offer hands-on learning and preparation for advanced careers in emerging industries.
Support struggling schools. The Obama administration has strengthened the existing program dedicated to improving low performing schools by ensuring that school turnaround efforts employ the most rigorous and meaningful methods possible.
Grow innovative practices. The President prioritized local innovative education initiatives through the "Investing in Innovation Fund," which helps establish and evaluate promising new education programs.
There is more Twitter town hall follow up to come. In the meantime, help us spread the word and share this information with people in your networks on Facebook, Twitter, and email.
Special thanks to Caitlin Doornbos and Ramsey Kincannon for their help with this post.