As state economies rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are pleased to report that there has been considerable recent activity to enact or expand state programs that make public colleges tuition-free. The programs detailed below, in most instances, enjoyed bipartisan support and were the product of strong gubernatorial leadership.
Read moreAs one of the founders of the Campaign for Free College Tuition in 2013, I argued strongly that historical inevitability and economic necessity were reasons enough to engage in what at the time seemed like a long-shot cause. But along with the other founders, I knew that whenever the American economy had undergone fundamental change, the nation had responded by expanding and refashioning the public education system to meet the new demands of the workplace.
Read moreTo rebuild America’s economy in a way that offers everyone an equal chance to get ahead, federal support for free college tuition should be a priority in any economic recovery plan in 2021.
Read moreAs of May 28, 36.5 million Americans filed unemployment insurance, a number far worse than the 2.7 million claims most economists were expecting and predicting.
The U.S. Department of Labor reported a loss of 20.5 million jobs in April 2020, which increased the unemployment rate to 14.7%, setting new Post-World War II records.
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Plummeting state revenue streams due to the Coronavirus pandemic will undoubtably impact some of the state programs that make public college tuition-free. The popularity and effectiveness of such programs will however allow most to survive in one form or another depending on the nature of any federal help that is offered. But Congress and other federal policy makers can make a difference right now by partnering with states to provide free college tuition to adults as part of any plan to jumpstart our nation’s economic recovery.
Read moreIn Michigan, they refer to it as 60 by 30.
Ohio has established a 65 by 25 goal.
North Carolina has a 55 by 25 goal.
In Washington, it’s 70 by 2023.
Many states have stated goals for educational attainment among their adult population.
Read moreLast month, Dr. Elizabeth Bell, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Miami University of Ohio, indicated in a blog post that “program design is an important predictor of public support for tuition-free college, with universal policies with minimum academic requirements commanding the broadest base of support.” We agree!
Read moreThe Campaign for Free College Tuition realizes that now is a time when elected officials and future candidates are focused on ensuring the safety and health of their families and their supporters. That is as it should be. But we also know that the country will get through this current crisis and will be looking for leaders with good ideas on how to help people rebuild their lives when the crisis eases.
In anticipation of that happening, hopefully sooner rather than later, we just released our candidate guidebook, Free Tuition for the Win: How Candidates Can Run and Win on Free College Tuition in 2020.
Read moreAcross the political aisle, extraordinary momentum has been building on the issue of tuition-free college. Overall 70% of the public supports the adoption of tuition-free public college, and policymakers in 19 states and nearly 300 cities have taken up the gauntlet and adopted a program. At this point, we know the idea of tuition-free public college is politically popular (see the map for a breakdown of this support across the states), but the burning question on the minds of policymakers is what program design engenders the most political support—what version of tuition-free college will reward them at the ballot box?
Read moreThis week, Vox’s The Impact podcast analyzed the successes — and the limitations — of the Kalamazoo Promise. Click here to listen to the full podcast.
Read moreOur goal is to make higher education a possibility for every American, without regard to their financial circumstances.
We have a lot to do and not much time to do it, so your support is critical for our campaign to succeed. It’s with your investment that we can fundamentally reform how higher education is financed in this country, opening the doors to a more equitable society.
If you agree with our goal, our plan, and the urgency of the problem, we ask that you give what you can to help us write the next chapter in our nation’s history of continuously expanding access to universal, free education.
