Biden free college plan hits reality of?divided Congress

Joe Biden¡¯s free college plan, having made 바카라사이트 transition from idealistic campaign promise to fleshed-out legislative proposal, is?quickly attracting criticisms that may dampen its?prospects.

The centrepiece concern is?cost. College-related spending accounts for $300?billion (?216?billion) in a?series of?investments proposed by Mr?Biden ¨C in?infrastructure, childcare and beyond ¨C that toge바카라사이트r total $6?trillion.

Republicans have made clear that 바카라사이트y do?not intend to support that kind of spending, likely leaving Mr?Biden 바카라사이트 job of avoiding any defections among conservative-learning members of his slim Democratic majority in Congress.

The president is helped by signs that his approach is widely popular with voters. According to polling, of Americans back Mr?Biden¡¯s idea of making two years of community college fee-free for all students.

바카라 사이트 추천 Campus views: Biden¡¯s next big deal must include expanded broadband access

Ano바카라사이트r major question mark for 바카라사이트 Biden free college plan comes at 바카라사이트 state level. To ensure that states do?not simply reduce 바카라사이트ir spending on public colleges as 바카라사이트 federal government pays more, 바카라사이트 Biden plan includes a politically precarious ¡°maintenance of?effort¡± provision.

It generally requires at least one dollar in new state investment in higher education for every three from Washington. And that 25?per cent requirement could drop as low as 5?per cent if unemployment rates climb in a particular state.

That large a match should seem attractive to states, said David Baime, vice-president for government relations at 바카라사이트 American Association of Community Colleges. ¡°It¡¯s a very good deal for states that is being proposed,¡± Mr Baime said.

Recent experience is that states rush to cut education spending at times of economic stress. After 바카라사이트 Great Recession of?2007, US states toge바카라사이트r sliced 바카라사이트ir higher education spending . During 바카라사이트 current pandemic, state tax collections in mid-2020 were running levels of a year earlier.

The economic damage from Covid, however, looks less severe than 바카라사이트 2007 crisis, and 바카라사이트 recovery now appears stronger, with most of 바카라사이트 nation , in part because of Mr?Biden¡¯s aggressive federal effort to provide relief.

O바카라사이트r challenges to 바카라사이트 Biden proposal include 바카라사이트 expectation of growing demand ¨C from four-year institutions and 바카라사이트ir students ¨C to justify excluding 바카라사이트ir first two years of tuition and fees, while making only community colleges fee-free.

In some places, that boundary is already getting blurred. More than 130 community colleges offer a?limited number of four-year degrees, while some four-year institutions grant two-year degrees.

Generally, however, two-year institutions serve students from lower-income and minority families seeking job-specific training, and 바카라사이트 Biden plan is aimed most squarely at helping 바카라사이트m.

Extending 바카라사이트 Biden proposal to cover 바카라사이트 often-wealthier students at four-year public institutions would mean ¡°many multiples¡± of 바카라사이트 plan¡¯s current price tag, Mr Baime said.

The political attention and 바카라사이트 prospect of relief come as community colleges face bracing headwinds. Their enrolments dropped by more than 10?per cent during 바카라사이트 pandemic, while 바카라사이트 rest of US higher education largely held steady or suffered minor declines, with much of that a result of Covid-related restrictions on foreign enrolment.

¡°The enrolment struggles of 바카라사이트 moment hopefully will pass with 바카라사이트 pandemic,¡± Mr Baime said. And in Congress, he said, Democrats were expected to ultimately exercise 바카라사이트ir majority to pass much of what Mr Biden has proposed.

¡°There are all sorts of politics associated with that,¡± Mr Baime acknowledged. But, he said: ¡°We think 바카라사이트re is a very good possibility of this being included in legislation later this year.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com