Posted by Maica Pichler on July 31, 2014 at 7:24 AM
As of November 2014, Redeeming America's Promise is now named the Campaign for Free College Tuition. American Promise scholarships are now known as National Promise scholarships.
At a time when the cost of college is skyrocketing and thousands of Americans are in default on their student loans, it feels like 
higher education financing reform is on everyone’s mind. Politicians in Washington have drafted their own solutions, but no one is getting help from across the aisle. Cue Redeeming America’s Promise, (RAP) a new nonprofit, bipartisan organization with an innovative plan to curb the costs of college tuition. The cornerstone of Redeeming America’s Promise plan is the establishment of an American Promise Scholarship program that would provide every academically qualified student from a middle or lower income family enough money to pay for tuition at either a two or four year college. Successful “Promise” scholarship programs already exist in several states and localities. They’ve helped thousands of students earn a college degree - but RAP is the first organization with a detailed plan on how to bring free college tuition to the national level. Backed by former Democratic and Republican elected officials, public policy experts and everyday Americans, RAP seeks to gather enough momentum to fundamentally change the way students pay for college - for the better.
"Our current system for financing higher education… needs to end before America loses its global competitive edge for good,” says RAP President and Former Policy Advisor to Al Gore, Morley Winograd. “Just as America made primary school education mandatory and free in the 19th century and a high school education universally available and free in the 20th century, we need to make college tuition free in the 21st century."
RAP’s plan would require congressional approval and action by state governments, meaning that the fight is only just beginning. Still, when a record 1 in 5 households now owe student loan debt, it’s clear that change is imperative.
