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AFFIRMATIVE CASE: FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

FREE AT LAST: THE CASE FOR FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

By “Coach Vance” Trefethen

"Resolved: The United States should significantly reform its policies regarding higher education."

The rising cost of college education and the rising burdens of college debt are a double threat to the current generation of young people. But the fact that post-secondary education is key to good jobs in this country still remains. Young people need a solution to this dilemma, and fortunately it has already been proposed; all we need is for Congress to enact it: The America's College Promise Act (ACPA).

Not only has it been proposed, but it was proposed back during the Truman Administration in 1947 and proposed again by Pres. Obama before he left office. Modeled after successful demonstration of the same principle at the state level in Tennessee, the ACPA would have the federal government pay for 3/4 of the cost of two-year community college for all high school graduates, with the States paying the remaining 1/4 of the cost. Evidence shows the plan would be used by 9 million students and save them an average of $3,800 per year, substantially reducing their potential debt burden and substantially increasing the college completion rate and availability of good jobs for millions of Americans.

Free At Last: The Case For Free Community College..................................................................................2OBSERVATION 1. We offer the following DEFINITIONS.........................................................................................2

United States:................................................................................................................................................................................2Policy:............................................................................................................................................................................................2Significant:....................................................................................................................................................................................2“Higher Education”:......................................................................................................................................................................2

OBSERVATION 2. INHERENCY, the structure of the Status Quo. Three key FACTS.............................................2

FACT 1. College Cost & College Debt..........................................................................................................................2Status Quo policies create enormous college debt........................................................................................................................2

FACT 2. Community Colleges Cost...............................................................................................................................3Even community colleges are unaffordable to many....................................................................................................................3

FACT 3. The America’s College Promise Act...............................................................................................................3It was a bill modeled after the Tennessee plan that was introduced in Congress but never passed..............................................3

OBSERVATION 4. We offer the following PLAN implemented by Congress, the President, and State legislatures. 3

OBSERVATION 5. The ADVANTAGES.....................................................................................................................4

ADVANTAGE 1. Debt reduced.....................................................................................................................................4A. The Plan: 9 million students would save an average of $3,800 per year.........................................................................4B. Debt Reduced: ACPA offers debt-free education............................................................................................................4C. The Impact: Student debt harms lives..............................................................................................................................4

ADVANTAGE 2. Good jobs..........................................................................................................................................5A. The Link: College is essential to getting good jobs.........................................................................................................5B. The Solution: Community colleges boost employment and 4-year degree completion..................................................5

ADVANTAGE 3. Economic Gains................................................................................................................................5A. The Link: The Plan brings rapid increase in college enrollment.....................................................................................5B. The Impact: Economic growth for everyone and economic self-sufficiency for the graduates......................................6

2A Evidence: Free Community College..........................................................................................................7

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DEFINITIONS & BACKGROUND..............................................................................................................................7Text of the America’s College Promise Act – print and bring with you to the round..................................................................7

OPENING QUOTES / AFFIRMATIVE PHILOSOPHY..............................................................................................7Free public high school used to be controversial, now it’s normal. 2 years of community college ought to be the same way....7Advocacy for the plan goes back to 1947.....................................................................................................................................7

INHERENCY.................................................................................................................................................................8SQ State efforts alone aren’t enough: We need federal involvement with the America’s College Promise Act.........................8

MINOR REPAIR RESPONSES.....................................................................................................................................8A/T “Just use Pell Grants” – Pell Grants aren’t enough and won’t solve for debt like ACPA does............................................8

HARMS / SIGNIFICANCE...........................................................................................................................................8Community College students have even more financial cost issues than 4-year university students...........................................8Lives harmed by increasing college debt: Can’t afford to buy homes..........................................................................................9College costs – and debt – increasing dramatically, including at community colleges................................................................9

SOLVENCY / ADVOCACY.........................................................................................................................................9Summary of how America’s College Promise Act works............................................................................................................9How much does the plan cost? Bill text explains........................................................................................................................10How much does the plan cost? Journalist estimates Plan costs Federal govt. $25 billion/year and States $6 billion/year........10Yes, we can afford it: Tennessee plan proves it..........................................................................................................................11If Tennessee can afford it, so can everyone else.........................................................................................................................11Funding: Federal government spends billions on student aid.....................................................................................................11Total of all state budgets was $1.85 trillion in fiscal year 2015..................................................................................................11Federal funding: Cut the F-35 fighter jet = $1.5 trillion and cancelling would be GOOD for national defense........................12Advocacy: 50 mayors signed a letter supporting America’s College Promise...........................................................................12A/T “Overcrowding / Insufficient Capacity” –Tennessee figured out how to handle it.............................................................13A/T “Many will enroll and then drop out” – Tennessee experience disproves. Retention rate is high......................................13A/T “Dropouts” – Tennessee free tuition students drop out at lower rates than others..............................................................13

ADVANTAGES...........................................................................................................................................................13The Tennessee plan gets people qualified for good jobs............................................................................................................13ACPA solves for college debt and improves the economy.........................................................................................................13ACPA will increase college completion among American Indians, because cost is the biggest factor blocking completion. . .14Big success in Tennessee: 63% retention rate and 17% decrease in number of students taking loans.......................................14

DISAVANTAGE RESPONSES...................................................................................................................................14A/T “Too expensive” – Saves taxpayer money in the long run by reducing welfare dependency.............................................14A/T “Poor quality colleges” - Colleges have to meet quality standards to qualify.....................................................................15A/T “Govt. aid makes colleges more expensive” – Not a shred of evidence for that theory......................................................15A/T “Govt. aid makes colleges more expensive” – Wrong, and believing it will deny opportunities to millions.....................15A/T “Govt. aid makes colleges more expensive” – Too many factors involved, no evidence showing an actual link..............15

Works Cited: Community College................................................................................................................16




FREE AT LAST: THE CASE FOR FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

The state of Tennessee recently established a plan to guarantee free access to community college for every state resident. Spreading this idea nationwide would bring substantial benefits. Please join my partner and me as we affirm that: The United States should significantly reform its policies regarding higher education.

OBSERVATION 1. We offer the following DEFINITIONS.

United States:

“A country occupying most of the southern half of North America and including also Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands; population 321,800,000 (estimated 2015); capital, Washington, DC. Full name United States of America.” (Oxford Living Dictionary copyright 2017 https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/united_states)

Policy:

“a high-level overall plan embracing the general goals and acceptable procedures especially of a governmental body” (Merriam Webster Online Dictionary, copyright 2017 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/policy)

Significant:

“having or likely to have influence or effect” (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary copyright 2017 https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/significant)

“Higher Education”:

“education beyond the secondary level; especially : education provided by a college or university” (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary copyright 2017 https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/higher%20education)

OBSERVATION 2. INHERENCY, the structure of the Status Quo. Three key FACTS

FACT 1. College Cost & College Debt

Status Quo policies create enormous college debt

CNBC 2015. (journalist Kelley Holland) 15 June 2015 “The high economic and social costs of student loan debt” http://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/15/the-high-economic-and-social-costs-of-student-loan-debt.html (ellipses in original)

The numbers are staggering: more than $1.2 trillion in outstanding student loan debt, 40 million borrowers, an average balance of $29,000. It's not hard to find indications that student debt is a large (and growing ) problem . But unless you or someone you love holds student loans, it can be hard to feel the problem's immediacy. That may not be the case for long. Mounting student loan debt is ricocheting through the United States, now affecting institutions and economic patterns that have been at the core of America's very might. Men and women laboring under student debt "are postponing marriage, childbearing and home purchases, and..pretty evidently limiting the percentage of young people who start a business or try to do something entrepreneurial," said Mitch Daniels, president of Purdue University and the former Republican governor of Indiana. "Every citizen and taxpayer should be concerned about it."



http://www.finaid.org/loans/studentloandebtclock.phtml

http://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/15/the-high-economic-and-social-costs-of-student-loan-debt.html

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/significant

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/policy

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/united_states


FACT 2. Community Colleges Cost

Even community colleges are unaffordable to many

Sen. Tammy Baldwin 2015 (D-Wisconsin; ethical disclosure about the date: article is undated but could not have been written before 2015, since that’s when the bill was introduced) “America’s College Promise Act” https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/download/acp-one-pager

FACT 3. The America’s College Promise Act.

It was a bill modeled after the Tennessee plan that was introduced in Congress but never passed

National Conference of State Legislatures 2016. (national association of members of state legislatures) “FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE” 25 Apr 2016 http://www.ncsl.org/research/education/free-community-college.aspx

“America’s College Promise Act of 2015” was introduced in Congress to implement President Obama’s proposal. In addition to an estimated nine million community college students, 300,000 students at minority serving institutions would receive tuition waivers. Both proposals would require colleges and universities to utilize federal performance indicators and adopt evidence-based practices and assessments to help improve student outcomes. Although gaining a lot of attention, the federal proposals are not new. States have been designing interesting and innovative strategies to provide low-cost or no-cost tuition for community colleges and help students begin to earn community college credits while still in high school. State legislators are paying more attention than ever before to providing the opportunity for all citizens to have access to postsecondary opportunities. While a high school degree used to be adequate for many jobs, research estimates that by 2020 nearly 70 percent of all jobs will require some kind of post-secondary training, certificate, or degree. For this reason, states have been considering many strategies for improving opportunities for students to have options for both college and careers after high school. President Obama’s proposal for a federal-state partnership to provide tuition-free access to community college students is modeled after recent state legislation. Since 2014, Tennessee, Oregon, and Minnesota have created free community college programs.

OBSERVATION 4. We offer the following PLAN implemented by Congress, the President, and State legislatures

1. Congress passes and State legislatures and Indian tribes vote to participate in the America’s College Promise Act. The specific mandates are:a) The federal government pays three-fourths of the cost of public community college tuition and the States and Indian tribes pay the remainder. b) The federal government provides scholarships for students attending minority-serving historically black and Hispanic colleges.2. Funding through cutting other federal student aid and the F-35 joint strike fighter and 0.5% increase in state taxes.3. Dates in the ACPA are adjusted to begin in fiscal year 2019.4. Enforcement through the Department of Education. Fraud punishable by the same sanctions as for similar crimes under existing law.5. Affirmative speeches may clarify



http://www.ncsl.org/research/education/free-community-college.aspx

https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/download/acp-one-pager


OBSERVATION 5. The ADVANTAGES

ADVANTAGE 1. Debt reduced

A. The Plan: 9 million students would save an average of $3,800 per year

Sonali Kohli 2015 (journalist) 8 July 2015 “Obama’s dream of free community college is headed to Congress” https://qz.com/448160/obamas-dream-of-free-community-college-is-headed-to-congress/

The plan, which would pay for students enrolled at least half-time with satisfactory grades, would cost the federal government about $90 billion over the next decade, lawmakers said during a press call—$30 billion more than Obama’s initial estimate. Of that, about $80 billion would go toward covering 75% of the cost of community college, while states would need to pay the other 25%. The remaining $10 billion would go toward paying tuition for low-income students at four-year minority-serving institutions such as historically black colleges and Hispanic colleges. Lawmakers supporting the bill estimate that if all the states participate, nine million college students could save an average of $3,800 each per year on tuition.

B. Debt Reduced: ACPA offers debt-free education

Eduardo Padron 2015 (President of Miami-Dade College) America’s College Promise: An Opportunity We Can’t Afford to Ignore, Sept 2015 https://www.mdc.edu/main/images/Padron-America-College-Promise_tcm6-100037.pdf

What if every student, nationwide, who desired a college education and was willing to do the hard work necessary to earn a degree, was given the opportunity to do so? That is exactly what The America’s College Promise Campaign is aiming to accomplish: debt-free tuition at community colleges for responsible students who have demonstrated academic success. The future of this movement is looking bright, as several states, beginning with Tennessee and its Tennessee Promise, as well as several initiatives including the recent introduction of the America’s College Promise Act of 2015 in the U.S. Congress, are moving this issue to the forefront. As a result, we need to encourage a solid commitment, at all levels, to making college just as universal as high school.

C. The Impact: Student debt harms lives

CNBC 2015. (journalist Kelley Holland) 15 June 2015 “The high economic and social costs of student loan debt” http://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/15/the-high-economic-and-social-costs-of-student-loan-debt.html (ellipses in original)

The high levels of student debt are also serving to perpetuate and even worsen economic inequality, undercutting the opportunity and social mobility that higher education has long promised. Americans almost universally believe that a college degree is the key to success and getting ahead—and the data shows that, generally speaking, college graduates still fare far better financially than those with just a high school diploma. But for those who are saddled with massive student debt, even getting by can be a challenge, much less getting ahead. "You wind up disadvantaged just as you begin. It has reduced the ability of our educational system to be a force for upward mobility, and for an equitable chance at upward mobility," said Melinda Lewis, associate professor of the practice at the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. "It is still true that you are better positioned if you go to college, but you are not as much better positioned if you have to go to college with debt."



http://investorrelations.discoverfinancial.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=204177&p=irol-pressArticle&ID=2057475

http://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/15/the-high-economic-and-social-costs-of-student-loan-debt.html

https://www.mdc.edu/main/images/Padron-America-College-Promise_tcm6-100037.pdf

https://www.mdc.edu/main/images/Padron-America-College-Promise_tcm6-100037.pdf

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/obama-free-community-college-federal-price-tag-114129.html

https://qz.com/448160/obamas-dream-of-free-community-college-is-headed-to-congress/


ADVANTAGE 2. Good jobs

A. The Link: College is essential to getting good jobs

National Conference of State Legislatures 2016. (national association of members of state legislatures) “FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE” 25 Apr 2016 http://www.ncsl.org/research/education/free-community-college.aspx

State legislators are paying more attention than ever before to providing the opportunity for all citizens to have access to postsecondary opportunities. While a high school degree used to be adequate for many jobs, research estimates that by 2020 nearly 70 percent of all jobs will require some kind of post-secondary training, certificate, or degree. For this reason, states have been considering many strategies for improving opportunities for students to have options for both college and careers after high school.

B. The Solution: Community colleges boost employment and 4-year degree completion


ADVANTAGE 3. Economic Gains

A. The Link: The Plan brings rapid increase in college enrollment

J. Noah Brown 2015 (President & CEO of Association of Community College Trustees) 31 Aug 2015 https://evolllution.com/managing-institution/government_legislation/americas-college-promise-will-mend-our-economy/

President Obama introduced America’s College Promise, a proposal to make two years of college education available with no tuition fees to qualifying students. Before President Obama announced his plan, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam introduced the Tennessee Promise, a similar tuition-free community college program available to all Tennesseans. Initially criticized as being impractical and “impossible” to implement, Oregon recently followed suit and enacted a free tuition plan of its own. Early data show response to the Tennessee plan has exceeded all expectations, with students signing up in droves.



https://evolllution.com/managing-institution/government_legislation/americas-college-promise-will-mend-our-economy/



http://www.ncsl.org/research/education/free-community-college.aspx


B. The Impact: Economic growth for everyone and economic self-sufficiency for the graduates

J. Noah Brown 2015 (President & CEO of Association of Community College Trustees) 31 Aug 2015 https://evolllution.com/managing-institution/government_legislation/americas-college-promise-will-mend-our-economy/ (brackets added to correct a typographical error in the original)

Think about America’s College Promise this way:- An estimated 60 percent of job openings will require at least an associate degree or higher by 2020, and many of those in the other 40 percent do no[t] provide a livable wage for American families.- The average internal rate of return for the nation’s students earning their associate’s degrees in community colleges is 17.8 percent.- Individuals with at least two-years of college earn 38 percent more than those with only a high school diploma or its equivalence—and the gap is widening.These data are evidence of real return on investment. Business leaders would do summersaults over profitability results such as these. America is no different. The investment in college will reverse the decades-long slide in educational attainment that is eroding our GDP and our ability to compete with nations that have upped their game by investing more as a percent of their wealth in the education of their people. More important, it moves us closer to fulfilling the true promise of America—that each new generation will do better than their parents and achieve greater economic self-sufficiency.





2A EVIDENCE: FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE


DEFINITIONS & BACKGROUND

Text of the America’s College Promise Act – print and bring with you to the round

https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2962/text

OPENING QUOTES / AFFIRMATIVE PHILOSOPHY

Free public high school used to be controversial, now it’s normal. 2 years of community college ought to be the same way


America’s College Promise is the natural evolution of the free high school movement, and moves our nation fully into the 21st Century, where education beyond high school is an absolute necessity. I don’t think anyone could reasonably argue that our country suffered economically following Horace Mann’s then-radical proposal in the mid-1800s that a primary “common” education should be free for all American students—a change so extreme it was not fully realized until 1918? We take for granted today the benefits of secondary education and the availability of higher education through our nation’s community college system.

Advocacy for the plan goes back to 1947


In fact, the promise of two years of tuition-free college is an old one, first proposed in 1947 by President Harry S. Truman’s Commission on Higher education. The committee’s report, Higher Education for American Democracy, established our unique community college system—a promise to make a high-quality higher education available to all students who qualify. Many within our sector know this, but many of us had forgotten that the Truman Commission report proposed “the extension of free public education through the first two years of college for all youth who can profit from such education.”








INHERENCY

SQ State efforts alone aren’t enough: We need federal involvement with the America’s College Promise Act

Institute for College Access & Success 2015 (independent non-profit organization, working to make higher education more available and affordable for people of all backgrounds; conducting and supporting nonpartisan research, analysis, and advocacy) “New Federal Legislation Tackles State Disinvestment in Public Colleges” 9 July 2015 http://ticas.org/tags/america%E2%80%99s-college-promise-act

Many low-income students who get enough aid to cover their tuition still struggle to pay for other basic college costs, including textbooks, transportation, room and board. These make up most of the cost of college for students at public four-year and community colleges. That’s why free tuition alone won’t solve the college affordability problem. The America’s College Promise Act introduced yesterday recognizes this by adding something with the potential to be far more transformative: a "maintenance of effort" provision aimed at making states hold up their end of the bargain when it comes to college funding. States are critical players in keeping college affordable, but they have also been complicit in the rise of tuition and student loan debt by letting higher education get squeezed out of state budgets. The decline in per-student state funding for higher education has been well documented, as has the resulting impact on public college costs. Without federal intervention, higher education funding is likely to keep getting squeezed out, to the detriment of students, families and our economy. The legislation introduced yesterday includes such an intervention: it requires states to keep their funding levels up, in addition to eliminating tuition at community colleges, if they want to access new federal dollars. That’s why the state maintenance of effort requirement in the legislation is so important.

MINOR REPAIR RESPONSES

A/T “Just use Pell Grants” – Pell Grants aren’t enough and won’t solve for debt like ACPA does

Institute for College Access & Success 2015 (independent non-profit organization, working to make higher education more available and affordable for people of all backgrounds; conducting and supporting nonpartisan research, analysis, and advocacy) “New Federal Legislation Tackles State Disinvestment in Public Colleges” 9 July 2015 http://ticas.org/tags/america%E2%80%99s-college-promise-act

We want states to invest in college affordability and debt-free college options, not in programs that may sound good but don’t make college more affordable for low- and moderate-income students. If we’re serious about increasing affordability and reducing debt, we need to help low-income students cover more of their costs. The America’s College Promise Act would free up community college students’ federal Pell Grants to cover non-tuition expenses by requiring states to waive tuition. This helps low-income students cover non-tuition expenses; using Pell Grants to declare tuition “free” for low-income students does not. After all, Pell Grant recipients, most of whom have family incomes under $40,000, are currently more than twice as likely to have to borrow and they graduate with more debt.

HARMS / SIGNIFICANCE

Community College students have even more financial cost issues than 4-year university students

Harvard University Institute of Politics, copyright 2017 “Student Debt Viewed as Major Problem; Financial Considerations Important Factor for Most Millennials When Considering Whether to Pursue College” http://iop.harvard.edu/student-debt-viewed-major-problem-financial-considerations-important-factor-most-millennials-when

Regardless of whether or not they have debt, 57 percent of Millennials under 30 believe that student debt is a major problem for young people in the United States -- and another 22 percent believe its a minor problem. Overall, 79 percent say its a problem, four percent say it is not a problem. In total, 70 percent of our sample reported that financial circumstances played an important (41% very, 29% somewhat) role in their decision whether or not to pursue a college education. Those who were more likely to say that financial circumstances were important are: 1. Community college and two-year college students (87% say it played an important role compared to 70% college students); and 2. 18- to 29- year old Blacks (52% say it played a very important role compared to 38% of Whites).



http://iop.harvard.edu/student-debt-viewed-major-problem-financial-considerations-important-factor-most-millennials-when

http://iop.harvard.edu/student-debt-viewed-major-problem-financial-considerations-important-factor-most-millennials-when

http://ticas.org/sites/default/files/pub_files/Debt_Facts_and_Sources.pdf

http://ticas.org/sites/default/files/pub_files/overall_pell_one-pager.pdf

http://ticas.org/tags/america%E2%80%99s-college-promise-act

http://www.demos.org/press-release/new-demos-report-shows-state-disinvestment-public-higher-education-driving-tuition-inc

http://www.sheeo.org/sites/default/files/project-files/SHEF%20FY%202014-20150410.pdf

http://www.cbpp.org/research/states-are-still-funding-higher-education-below-pre-recession-levels

http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/baldwin-americas-college-promise-act-to-make-higher-education-more-accessible-and-affordable-

http://trends.collegeboard.org/college-pricing/figures-tables/average-estimated-undergraduate-budgets-2014-15

http://ticas.org/tags/america%E2%80%99s-college-promise-act


Lives harmed by increasing college debt: Can’t afford to buy homes

Anya Kamenetz 2017 (journalist with National Public Radio) 4 Apr 2017 A New Look At The Lasting Consequences Of Student Debt http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/04/04/522456671/a-new-look-at-the-lasting-consequences-of-student-debt

Recent college graduates who borrow are leaving school with an average of $34,000 in student loans. That's up from $20,000 just 10 years ago, according to a new analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York . In that report, out this week, the New York Fed took a careful look at the relationship between debt and homeownership. For people aged 30 to 36, the analysis shows having any student debt significantly hurts your chances of buying a home, compared to college graduates with no debt. The cliche of "good debt" notwithstanding, the consequences of borrowing are real, and they are lasting.

College costs – and debt – increasing dramatically, including at community colleges

Anya Kamenetz 2017 (journalist with National Public Radio) 4 Apr 2017 A New Look At The Lasting Consequences Of Student Debt http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/04/04/522456671/a-new-look-at-the-lasting-consequences-of-student-debt

Regardless of what happens with that program and others, nothing is holding back the rise of college tuition — up nine percent, after inflation, in the past five years at public universities. Dudley pointed out that in the last several years, public colleges have generally become less, not more, accessible to middle-income students, when you look at tuition and aid policies. Living expenses are also a continuing burden for students, a significant number of whom are dealing with homelessness and hunger at the nation's community colleges in particular. In the absence of more targeted grant or scholarship programs, more people are taking out student loans, and they are borrowing more. All that borrowing adds up to a total of $1.3 trillion, nearly triple what it was a decade ago.

SOLVENCY / ADVOCACY

Summary of how America’s College Promise Act works





http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/03/15/520192774/national-survey-shows-high-rates-of-hungry-and-homeless-community-college-studen

https://trends.collegeboard.org/college-pricing/figures-tables/tuition-and-fees-and-room-and-board-over-time-1976-77_2016-17-selected-years

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/04/04/522456671/a-new-look-at-the-lasting-consequences-of-student-debt

https://www.newyorkfed.org/press/pressbriefings/household-borrowing-student-loans-homeownership

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/04/04/522456671/a-new-look-at-the-lasting-consequences-of-student-debt


How much does the plan cost? Bill text explains

Community College: $1.36 billion the first year, ramping up to $14.17 billion the 10th year Minority Scholarships: $55 million the first year, ramping up to $1.4 billion the 10th year

Text of the America’s College Promise Act 2015 https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2962/text

SEC.107. APPROPRIATIONS(a) Authorization And Appropriations.—For the purpose of making grants under this title, there are authorized to be appropriated, and there are appropriated—(1) $1,365,000,000 for fiscal year 2016;(2) $3,020,000,000 for fiscal year 2017;(3) $3,854,000,000 for fiscal year 2018;(4) $5,395,000,000 for fiscal year 2019;(5) $7,061,000,000 for fiscal year 2020;(6) $8,085,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;(7) $10,182,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;(8) $13,019,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;(9) $13,583,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and(10) $14,171,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each succeeding fiscal year.

END QUOTE. Later in the Bill at Section 204 it reads QUOTE:

SEC. 204. APPROPRIATIONS.(a) Authorization And Appropriations For HBCU And MSI Grants.—For the purpose of carrying out sections 201 and 202, there are authorized to be appropriated, and there are appropriated—(1) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2016;(2) $180,000,000 for fiscal year 2017;(3) $1,072,000,000 for fiscal year 2018;(4) $1,115,000,000 for fiscal year 2019;(5) $1,160,000,000 for fiscal year 2020;(6) $1,206,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;(7) $1,225,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;(8) $1,306,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;(9) $1,359,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and(10) $1,414,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each succeeding fiscal year.

How much does the plan cost? Journalist estimates Plan costs Federal govt. $25 billion/year and States $6 billion/year

Jon Wiener 2015 (journalist) 23 March 2015 THE NATION “ It’s Time to End Tuition at Public Universities—and Abolish Student Debt” https://www.thenation.com/article/its-time-end-tuition-public-universities-and-abolish-student-debt/

Obama’s plan doesn’t go that far: he proposes that the federal government pay three-quarters of the cost of tuition for two-year public community colleges, and that states pay the rest. Students would have to be enrolled at least half-time, maintain a C-plus average, and “make steady progress toward completing a program.” If all fifty states agreed to fund the program, it could cover 9 million students and save each one about $3,800 a year. Republicans, of course, are not going to fund such an initiative, leading one GOP spokesman to label Obama’s proposal “more of a talking point than a plan.” A little arithmetic suggests that the proposal would cost the federal government something like $25 billion a year, while the states would have to come up with another $6 billion.



https://www.thenation.com/article/its-time-end-tuition-public-universities-and-abolish-student-debt/


https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2962/text


Yes, we can afford it: Tennessee plan proves it


A little arithmetic suggests that the proposal would cost the federal government something like $25 billion a year, while the states would have to come up with another $6 billion. Republicans and Democrats alike say we can’t afford it. But they stopped saying that in Tennessee in 2014: there, the legislature voted to make tuition and fees free for two years for all state high-school graduates who want to go to a community college or technical school. (Tuition there costs $4,000.)

If Tennessee can afford it, so can everyone else


If Tennessee can afford free tuition, so can everybody else. But how did Tennessee do it? Republican Governor Bill Haslam began by arguing that Tennessee needed more educated people, and set a goal of increasing the number of residents who hold a college degree from 33 percent today to 55 percent by 2025. The state will pay for it by creating a self-sustaining endowment of $300 million. Most of the money comes from a lottery fund, and the state legislature also voted to contribute $47 million.

Funding: Federal government spends billions on student aid


The US government already spends lots of money on student aid. Federal spending in 2014, the College Board reports, includes $47 billion in grants, $101 billion in loans and $20 billion in tax credits.










Total of all state budgets was $1.85 trillion in fiscal year 2015

Analysis: The sum of all state budgets in 2015 according to this chart was one million eight hundred fifty-three thousand eight hundred sixty-one million dollars. A million million is a trillion, so that works out to $1.85 trillion. The plan costs the States $9 billion. $9 billion divided by $1.85 trillion = 0.486% increase in state budgets to pay for the plan.

Kaiser Family Foundation 2015. (non-profit research institute) “Total State Expenditures (in millions) Timeframe: SFY 2015” http://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/total-state-spending/?currentTimeframe=0&sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D

Federal funding: Cut the F-35 fighter jet = $1.5 trillion and cancelling would be GOOD for national defense

Mike Fredenburg 2017 (B.S. in mechanical engineering and a masters in production operations management) NATIONAL REVIEW 6 Jan 2017 “Mr. President, Cancel the F-35“ http://www.nationalreview.com/article/443612/f-35-donald-trump-should-cancel-failed-f-35-fighter-jet-program

The F-35 program showcases all that is wrong about our military’s vendor-dominated, crony-capitalist procurement system. Unless dealt with decisively, its massive cost and its lack of capability will have a dramatically negative impact on our military’s effectiveness for decades to come. Therefore, President-elect Trump’s willingness to publicly call out this $1.5 trillion program is good news.

Advocacy: 50 mayors signed a letter supporting America’s College Promise

Executive Office of the President 2015. “America’s College Promise: A Progress Report on Free Community College” 9 Sept 2015 (brackets and ellipses in original) https://www.insidehighered.com/sites/default/server_files/files/Progress+Report+on+Community+College.pdf

In March, 50 Mayors signed a letter supporting the proposal. Led by Chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayor's Jobs, Education and the Workforce Standing Committee, West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon, the group wrote: “The President’s proposal for America’s College Promise is inspired by city and state programs that are proving to be beacons of success . . . [and] is wholly in keeping with our adopted policy in that it pushes colleges to increase completion rates, align programs to workforce needs, and encourage students to do the kinds of things that are associated with successful certificate and degree completion.”



https://www.insidehighered.com/sites/default/server_files/files/Progress+Report+on+Community+College.pdf

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/443612/f-35-donald-trump-should-cancel-failed-f-35-fighter-jet-program

http://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/total-state-spending/?currentTimeframe=0&sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D

http://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/total-state-spending/?currentTimeframe=0&sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D


A/T “Overcrowding / Insufficient Capacity” –Tennessee figured out how to handle it

Mattie Quinn 2016 (journalist) Oct 2016 “Tennessee’s Free College Program Is Popular, But Will It Succeed?” GOVERNING http://www.governing.com/topics/education/gov-tennessee-free-community-college-promise.html

(Those enrollment spikes prompt questions about other potential challenges down the road. Is the state prepared to invest in additional professors and administrative staff? Will campuses need to expand -- or will more new campuses need to be built -- to accommodate an increasing student population? Mike Krause, executive director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, says the uptick in enrollment will actually level out what had been sagging rates at the state’s community colleges. But overcrowding is definitely on the state’s radar, he says. “We have provided funding pools for campuses specifically to address Promise student success.”)

A/T “Many will enroll and then drop out” – Tennessee experience disproves. Retention rate is high

Tennessee Higher Education Commission 2017. (agency of the State of Tennessee responsible for post-secondary education policy) “Tennessee Promise Sees Increased Enrollment, Strong Retention Rates in Year 2” 2 Feb 2017 https://www.tn.gov/thec/news/48418

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) announced today that the number of Tennessee Promise students who enrolled in college for the first time grew in the program’s second year while the majority of the scholarship’s first class of students re-enrolled for a second year of college. The Tennessee Promise scholarship was the first in the nation to offer graduating high school seniors two years tuition-free at a community or technical college.

A/T “Dropouts” – Tennessee free tuition students drop out at lower rates than others

Tennessee Higher Education Commission 2017. (agency of the State of Tennessee responsible for post-secondary education policy) “Tennessee Promise Sees Increased Enrollment, Strong Retention Rates in Year 2” 2 Feb 2017 https://www.tn.gov/thec/news/48418

The growth in enrollment for the second cohort and the retention rate for the first cohort indicate that not only is Tennessee Promise increasing first-time student enrollment in the state, but that those students are staying enrolled at strong rates. Among Tennessee Promise students at Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs), 83 percent returned for a second year. At community colleges, 58 percent of Tennessee Promise students re-enrolled, compared to 42 percent of non-Tennessee Promise students.

ADVANTAGES

The Tennessee plan gets people qualified for good jobs

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam 2017. (quoted by journalist Adam Tamburin) Tuition-free community college to become the norm in Tennessee 12 May 2017 USA ToDAY https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/05/12/tuition-free-community-college-become-norm-tennessee/319384001/

“In Tennessee, we’ve determined that the best jobs plan is an education plan. If we want to have jobs ready for Tennesseans, we have to make sure that Tennesseans are ready for jobs," Haslam said in the statement. "There is no smarter investment than increasing access to high quality education."

ACPA solves for college debt and improves the economy

Paul Bradley 2015 (journalist) “The College Promise” 11 Aug 2015 Community College Week http://ccweek.com/article-4674-the-college-promise.html (brackets added)

“Higher education should be a path to shared prosperity, not a path into suffocating debt,” [Wisconsin Senator Tammy] Baldwin said in a statement. “Unfortunately college costs and student loan debt are holding back an entire generation and creating a drag on economic growth for our country. America needs to out-educate the rest of the world in order to better compete in a 21st century, skills-based economy. The America’s College Promise Act will strengthen workforce readiness and our economy.”



http://ccweek.com/article-4674-the-college-promise.html

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/05/12/tuition-free-community-college-become-norm-tennessee/319384001/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/05/12/tuition-free-community-college-become-norm-tennessee/319384001/

https://www.tn.gov/thec/news/48418



ACPA will increase college completion among American Indians, because cost is the biggest factor blocking completion

American Indian Higher Education Consortium 2015. (association of 37 Tribal Colleges & Universities) 8 July 2015 “America’s College Promise” and Tribal Colleges & Universities “ http://www.aihec.org/what-we-do/docs/FY16/2015JUL8_AIHEC-Statement_Americas%20Promise%20Act.pdf (brackets added)

The America’s College Promise Act will open new worlds of opportunity for thousands of American Indian young people at Tribal Colleges. Enactment of this legislation will mean that more American Indians and Alaska Natives will be able to access – and most important, complete – a degree program in a field that will help our tribes grow their Native workforce. Tribal colleges are locally based, tribally driven institutions of higher education that award predominately two-year associate’s degrees and certificates to Native students and others throughout Indian Country. TCUs serve some of the poorest communities in this country (seven of the 10 poorest counties in the U.S. are home to a tribal college). More than 65 percent of our students are first generation college students and almost 75 percent receive Pell grants. These students, their tribal communities, and the nation as a whole, will benefit tremendously from the America’s College Promise Act. The Act should also help address some of the huge unpaid tuition write- offs that TCUs [tribal colleges and universities] incur every year. We have been trying to make a case for an increased focus on non-loan student financial support, such as scholarships and tuition aid, because of a huge shortfall in American Indian student financial support and the detrimental impact this has on TCUs and tribal communities. Financial stress is the greatest deterrent to successful completion at our colleges, and the cost is high, both financially and in terms of completion and graduation rates.

Big success in Tennessee: 63% retention rate and 17% decrease in number of students taking loans

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam 2017. (Quoted by Tennessee Higher Education Commission, an agency of the State of Tennessee responsible for post-secondary education policy)) “Tennessee Promise Sees Increased Enrollment, Strong Retention Rates in Year 2” 2 Feb 2017 https://www.tn.gov/thec/news/48418

“Education beyond high school is critical to the Tennessee we can be, and while it’s still early in the Tennessee Promise story, the results so far are incredibly encouraging,” Governor Bill Haslam said. “Since the program started, more than 33,000 students have enrolled in college as a result of Tennessee Promise, and of the students who began in fall 2015, 63 percent are still enrolled. Those students have performed a million hours of community service across our state and been mentored by 9,000 adult volunteers. We’ve led the nation in FAFSA filings the past two years, and at a time when the rest of the nation is wondering what to do about student loans, Tennessee has seen a 17 percent decrease in the number of students taking out loans.”

DISAVANTAGE RESPONSES

A/T “Too expensive” – Saves taxpayer money in the long run by reducing welfare dependency

Paul Bradley 2015 (journalist) “The College Promise” 11 Aug 2015 Community College Week http://ccweek.com/article-4674-the-college-promise.html

Last month, Oregon became the second state to enact a free community college program when Gov. Kate Brown signed into law legislation that has been dubbed the Oregon Promise. Under the $10 million initiative — which includes a large chunk of cash for student support services — up to 6,000 students could benefit in 2016, when the law becomes effective. In addition to the tuition waiver, some students would be eligible for up to $1,000 for non-tuition expenses. Democratic State Sen. Mark Haas, who sponsored the Senate version of the legislation, predicted the money will be a worthwhile investment for the state. “Most of us agree that without some kind of training or education after high school there is a well-worn path to poverty,” he said in testimony about his proposal. “And poverty is expensive. A lifetime of food stamps is more expensive than the annual community college tuition of $3,000.” “Oregon has a growing population of young people who have no job, no post-secondary education and no opportunity to get ahead. The Oregon Youth Commission says each one of these 70,000 young people between 18 and 24 costs taxpayers about $14,000 a year in social services and direct costs to society. The day one of them goes to work is the day they leave the welfare rolls.”



http://ccweek.com/article-4674-the-college-promise.html


http://www.aihec.org/what-we-do/docs/FY16/2015JUL8_AIHEC-Statement_Americas%20Promise%20Act.pdf


A/T “Poor quality colleges” - Colleges have to meet quality standards to qualify

Sonali Kohli 2015 (journalist) 8 July 2015 “Obama’s dream of free community college is headed to Congress” https://qz.com/448160/obamas-dream-of-free-community-college-is-headed-to-congress/

Under the new bill, states would have to ensure that eligible two-year community and technical colleges meet quality standards, and that credits from two-year colleges are fully transferrable to four-year schools. Currently only 16% of two-year college students actually go on to earn a bachelor’s degree. The hope is that lessening the financial burden of those first two years would help students complete a bachelor’s degree.

A/T “Govt. aid makes colleges more expensive” – Not a shred of evidence for that theory

David L. Warren 2012 (President of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities) 1 June 2012 “Why student aid is NOT driving up college costs” WASHINGTON POST https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/the-urban-legend-of-the-bennett-hypothesis-or-why-student-aid-is-not-driving-up-college-costs/2012/05/31/gJQAFvEX5U_blog.html?utm_term=.e3d0115ea0ef

According to the hypothesis, named after former Education Secretary William Bennett, who promoted the notion in the 1980s, student aid has allegedly given colleges and universities “license” to increase tuition, meaning that federal student aid has not made higher education more accessible or more affordable. There is not a shred of empirical evidence of a causal relationship between federal student aid and tuition increases at public and private nonprofit institutions, including institutions with high published prices and large endowments.

A/T “Govt. aid makes colleges more expensive” – Wrong, and believing it will deny opportunities to millions

David L. Warren 2012 (President of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities) 1 June 2012 “Why student aid is NOT driving up college costs” WASHINGTON POST https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/the-urban-legend-of-the-bennett-hypothesis-or-why-student-aid-is-not-driving-up-college-costs/2012/05/31/gJQAFvEX5U_blog.html?utm_term=.e3d0115ea0ef

It is wrong to suggest that student aid is a cause for growing college costs, in any sector. To argue so is counterproductive to the goal of making higher education accessible and affordable. Without the continued federal investment in student aid, a college degree will be a lost dream for millions of low- and middle-income Americans. It is too important to the nation and these students to abandon them now.

A/T “Govt. aid makes colleges more expensive” – Too many factors involved, no evidence showing an actual link

Donald E. Heller 2013 (dean of Michigan State Univ. College of Education) “By the Numbers: Exploding the Bennett Hypothesis” 1 July 2013 http://www.acenet.edu/the-presidency/columns-and-features/Pages/By-the-Numbers-Exploding-the-Bennett-Hypothesis.aspx

Some studies find a relationship between Pell grants and tuition increases; others do not. Some find a relationship in some college sectors but not others, and other studies find exactly the opposite result. All of these studies suffer from major limitations, including the imprecision with which researchers can measure key variables, including Pell grant awards at the institution, as well as other components of financial aid. Without accurate data it is impossible to accurately model, or even approximate, what the true supply and demand curves are for an institution or a group of institutions. Without the ability to discern the supply and demand, it is difficult to determine with any degree of certainty how an external shock to the system—such as an increase in Pell grant awards—would affect the equilibrium point of the higher education market, and thus, what the impact would be on tuition prices and the number of students who enroll. This complex process involves far too many variables for it to be essentially explained by the simplistic notion that tuition-setting boards sit around and say, “Well, Pell grants are going up $200 next year, so we can raise tuition $100.” Any change in federal aid may be a very small piece of the puzzle that leads to year-to-year tuition increases, but there is scant evidence that it is a major contributing factor. As intriguing as the idea of such causality might be, there is little compelling evidence that the Bennett Hypothesis actually holds true.



http://www.acenet.edu/the-presidency/columns-and-features/Pages/By-the-Numbers-Exploding-the-Bennett-Hypothesis.aspx

http://www.acenet.edu/the-presidency/columns-and-features/Pages/By-the-Numbers-Exploding-the-Bennett-Hypothesis.aspx

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/the-urban-legend-of-the-bennett-hypothesis-or-why-student-aid-is-not-driving-up-college-costs/2012/05/31/gJQAFvEX5U_blog.html?utm_term=.e3d0115ea0ef


http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/already-saddled-with-college-debt-students-encounter-another-financial-burden-_-card-fees/2012/05/29/gJQAv6azzU_story.html



https://qz.com/324023/only-16-of-us-community-college-students-go-on-to-earn-four-year-degrees/

https://qz.com/448160/obamas-dream-of-free-community-college-is-headed-to-congress/

WORKS CITED: FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

WORKS CITED: COMMUNITY COLLEGE

1. CNBC 2015. (journalist Kelley Holland) 15 June 2015 “The high economic and social costs of student loan debt” http://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/15/the-high-economic-and-social-costs-of-student-loan-debt.html (ellipses in original)

2. Sen. Tammy Baldwin 2015 (D-Wisconsin; ethical disclosure about the date: article is undated but could not have been written before 2015, since that’s when the bill was introduced) “America’s College Promise Act” https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/download/acp-one-pager

3. National Conference of State Legislatures 2016. (national association of members of state legislatures) “FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE” 25 Apr 2016 http://www.ncsl.org/research/education/free-community-college.aspx

4. Sonali Kohli 2015 (journalist) 8 July 2015 “Obama’s dream of free community college is headed to Congress” https://qz.com/448160/obamas-dream-of-free-community-college-is-headed-to-congress/

5. Eduardo Padron 2015 (President of Miami-Dade College) America’s College Promise: An Opportunity We Can’t Afford to Ignore, Sept 2015 https://www.mdc.edu/main/images/Padron-America-College-Promise_tcm6-100037.pdf

6. J. Noah Brown 2015 (President & CEO of Association of Community College Trustees) 31 Aug 2015 https://evolllution.com/managing-institution/government_legislation/americas-college-promise-will-mend-our-economy/

7. Institute for College Access & Success 2015 (independent non-profit organization, working to make higher education more available and affordable for people of all backgrounds; conducting and supporting nonpartisan research, analysis, and advocacy) “New Federal Legislation Tackles State Disinvestment in Public Colleges” 9 July 2015 http://ticas.org/tags/america%E2%80%99s-college-promise-act

8. Harvard University Institute of Politics, copyright 2017 “Student Debt Viewed as Major Problem; Financial Considerations Important Factor for Most Millennials When Considering Whether to Pursue College” http://iop.harvard.edu/student-debt-viewed-major-problem-financial-considerations-important-factor-most-millennials-when

9. Anya Kamenetz 2017 (journalist with National Public Radio) 4 Apr 2017 A New Look At The Lasting Consequences Of Student Debt http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/04/04/522456671/a-new-look-at-the-lasting-consequences-of-student-debt




10. Text of the America’s College Promise Act 2015 https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2962/text

11. Jon Wiener 2015 (journalist) 23 March 2015 THE NATION “ It’s Time to End Tuition at Public Universities—and Abolish Student Debt” https://www.thenation.com/article/its-time-end-tuition-public-universities-and-abolish-student-debt/

12. Kaiser Family Foundation 2015. (non-profit research institute) “Total State Expenditures (in millions) Timeframe: SFY 2015” http://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/total-state-spending/?currentTimeframe=0&sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D

13. Mike Fredenburg 2017 (B.S. in mechanical engineering and a masters in production operations management) NATIONAL REVIEW 6 Jan 2017 “Mr. President, Cancel the F-35“ http://www.nationalreview.com/article/443612/f-35-donald-trump-should-cancel-failed-f-35-fighter-jet-program

14. Executive Office of the President 2015 . “America’s College Promise: A Progress Report on Free Community College” 9 Sept 2015 (brackets and ellipses in original) https://www.insidehighered.com/sites/default/server_files/files/Progress+Report+on+Community+College.pdf

15. Mattie Quinn 2016 (journalist) Oct 2016 “Tennessee’s Free College Program Is Popular, But Will It Succeed?” GOVERNING http://www.governing.com/topics/education/gov-tennessee-free-community-college-promise.html

16. Tennessee Higher Education Commission 2017. (agency of the State of Tennessee responsible for post-secondary education policy) “Tennessee Promise Sees Increased Enrollment, Strong Retention Rates in Year 2” 2 Feb 2017 https://www.tn.gov/thec/news/48418

17. Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam 2017. (quoted by journalist Adam Tamburin) Tuition-free community college to become the norm in Tennessee 12 May 2017 USA ToDAY https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/05/12/tuition-free-community-college-become-norm-tennessee/319384001/

18. Paul Bradley 2015 (journalist) “The College Promise” 11 Aug 2015 Community College Week http://ccweek.com/article-4674-the-college-promise.html

19. American Indian Higher Education Consortium 2015. (association of 37 Tribal Colleges & Universities) 8 July 2015 “America’s College Promise” and Tribal Colleges & Universities “ http://www.aihec.org/what-we-do/docs/FY16/2015JUL8_AIHEC-Statement_Americas%20Promise%20Act.pdf




20. David L. Warren 2012 (President of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities) 1 June 2012 “Why student aid is NOT driving up college costs” WASHINGTON POST https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/the-urban-legend-of-the-bennett-hypothesis-or-why-student-aid-is-not-driving-up-college-costs/2012/05/31/gJQAFvEX5U_blog.html?utm_term=.e3d0115ea0ef

21. Donald E. Heller 2013 (dean of Michigan State Univ. College of Education) “By the Numbers: Exploding the Bennett Hypothesis” 1 July 2013 http://www.acenet.edu/the-presidency/columns-and-features/Pages/By-the-Numbers-Exploding-the-Bennett-Hypothesis.aspx



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