A decade ago, a majority of Americans felt positive about higher education but today these feelings have shifted. Americans, even across party lines, are increasingly concerned about affordability, access, and the overall payoff of a college degree. Combined with technological advances that have altered the credentials and skills needed for a successful career, many Americans have come to believe that traditional four-year degree programs do not meet our nation’s industry demands.
Today, the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) released a new report “Revisiting Super Pell: Empowering Students to Earn the Skills They Need to Succeed,” detailing an innovative policy proposal to expand the existing Pell Grant program and allow it to cover short-term industry-aligned programs. PPI recommends consolidating existing assistance for higher education — tax incentives, the Pell Grant and other programs — into a new Super Pell Grant.
Report author Taylor Maag, Director of Workforce Development Policy and the New Skills for a New Economy Project at the Progressive Policy Institute, outlines how a Super Pell grant would reach roughly 5 million more students from middle and low-income backgrounds, increase the average Pell award by at least $500, and allow all eligible individuals to use their aid for non-degree programs that are not currently covered by federal financial aid.
“As we stand at the intersection of technological advancements, shifting workforce demands, and a growing desire for accessible career education, America’s degree-centric model for higher education must evolve. A Super Pell Grant would consolidate federal higher education spending to expand the reach of the Pell Grant while also expanding its ability to cover shorter-term, more workforce-oriented programs. This expansion would enable millions of Americans to pursue quicker and more affordable ways to acquire higher skills and higher-wage jobs. The result will be a societal win-win: a more adaptable and competitive workforce and less economic inequality,” said Taylor Maag.
By enacting Super Pell, policymakers would be simplifying federal aid and expanding access to postsecondary education. The expansion of this grant and the inclusion of short-term workforce training will not only meet the needs of today’s students — those who are older and more diverse — but also ensure employers have the talent they need to remain competitive.
Read and download the full report here.
New Skills for a New Economy, a project of PPI, seeks to promote workforce development policies that level the playing field for degree and non-degree workers. This project plays a critical role in shaping federal and state workforce policy, weighing in on important debates, key legislation, and helping to lift up new ideas and best practices happening across the country.
The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) is a catalyst for policy innovation and political reform based in Washington, D.C., with offices in Brussels, Berlin and the United Kingdom. Its mission is to create radically pragmatic ideas for moving America beyond ideological and partisan deadlock. Learn more about PPI by visiting progressivepolicy.org
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Media Contact: Amelia Fox, afox@ppionline.org