Higher Education Act (HEA)
The reauthorization of the Higher Education Act should be completed in 2008. Congress should reject the inclusion of the "single definition" of "institution of higher education" in HEA. The "single definition" would give for-profit institutions access to federal grants such as Title III-A, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Department of Labor, nursing, National Science Foundation, and numerous other programs. Congress should not place any conditions on the acceptance of transfer credits by colleges, though it should provide funding for colleges and states to facilitate transfer voluntarily. Congress also should be sensitive to the unique nature of community colleges in creating new reporting requirements on cost, accountability, and other areas. Finally, Congress needs to do more to assist community college teacher education programs.
Pell Grants
Each year, Pell Grants help more than 2 million community college students attend college by paying for tuition, books and equipment and living expenses. In the last year, Congress has provided substantial increases in the Pell Grant maximum, but this critical college access program still needs enhanced support. Also, Congress should grant community college students access to year-round Pell Grants through the HEA reauthorization.
Community-Based Job Training Grants (CBJTG)
The Community-Based Job Training Grants serve a vital national need – enhancing community colleges’ capacity to train workers in high-demand, high-growth industries. CBJTG brings together community colleges, local businesses and the federal workforce investment system to meet the training needs for industries such as health care, advanced manufacturing and construction. The tremendous number of proposals submitted in the grand competitions shows the need for increased CBJTG funding, and Congress should provide $250 million in FY2009.
Carl D. Perkins Act Reauthorization
The 109th Congress reauthorized the Perkins Act with near unanimous support. Congress should continue to support the improvement of career and technical education (CTE) programs at the secondary and postsecondary levels and fund the Act at $1.5 billion in FY2009.
Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Reauthorization
Congress needs reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act. The extended WIA should contain explicit authorization language for the Community Based Job Training program, and place greater emphasis on training within the overall WIA system. The current onerous reporting requirements for training providers need to be dramatically streamlined. Community colleges continue to be strongly concerned with provisions that authorize governors to divert funds from WIA’s "partner" programs to pay to operate One-Stop Centers.
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