Good NestingThe American Rescue Plan was signed into law in March by President Biden. With it, $1,400 stimulus payments were distributed, schools reopened, and the COVID-19 vaccine began to reach recipients of all ages.
While that plan has shown plenty of signs of success, Biden recently announced his American Families Plan to help build back better even more. This new plan aims to invest in children and families, offering assistance for basic expenses, affordable health insurance, etc. Here are the highlights when it comes to education for students as young as three all the way up to college.
American Families Plan Education Highlights
Universal Pre-School
Biden wants to partner with states to provide universal pre-school to all children ages three and four. If successful, this would save the average family $13,000 per year while offering schooling to over five million children. It would also give families the chance to enroll their children in pre-school services that are sometimes limited to those with higher incomes. In doing so, it would make it easier to work while their kids are in school to improve household income.
Universal pre-school would require a $200 billion investment to ensure high-quality education via low student-teacher ratios and more.
Anyone interested in being an early childhood educator would also receive benefits in the form of tuition-free community college, advanced on-the-job training, and competitive wages.
Pre-K and Head Start program workers would earn a minimum of $15 per hour.
Free Community College
With a $109 billion investment, the American Families Plan aims to help first-time students and workers enroll in community college at no cost so they can earn a degree or credential.
This move is being made to counter a decline in college enrollment due to high costs.
Once enrolled, students can use the free community college benefit for up to four years to complete their studies. Once implemented, Biden’s American Families Plan could help 5.5 million people attend community college for free across the country. It would also include funding for DREAMers.
Increased Pell Grants
Although seven million low-income students depend on Pell Grants, such funding has not been able to keep up with the ever-increasing costs of college. In fact, Pell Grant values have decreased over the last fifty years, prompting Biden to add $1,400 to the maximum Pell Grant award. Like free community college, DREAMers would also get access to these larger Pell Grants.
Improve College Completion and Retention
Studies show that getting a college degree can lead to financial stability, improved health outcomes, and more social mobility. It’s also been shown to reduce crime rates and benefit society as a whole.
Since only three out of five students complete degree or certificate programs, President Biden is initiating a $62 billion grant program to improve college completion and retention.
With this investment, the American Families Plan will allocate funds to offer mental health services, child care, basic needs grants, mentoring, and more to ensure that more students finish their secondary education.
