The dream of free college for all recently took a big step forward.
The College Promise campaign unveiled its proposal for joint support from both federal and state governments. This partnership, if enacted, could make public community and two-or four-year colleges and universities completely free for all qualifying students.
The proposal is the brainchild of Dr. Martha Kanter, the CEO of College Promise and former undersecretary of education for President Obama.
“My goal in life is to give every student, who has the potential and the desire to go beyond high school, the open door,” she said.
Before COVID-19, half of College Promise participating schools reported difficulties in financially sustaining their operations. In 2020, Oregon reduced its promise program funding by $3.6 million. This new proposal divides financial support. The majority of the financial burden (75%) would be shouldered by the federal government and the remaining subsidized by the state. The proposal’s goal is not just to create a sustainable system of free public college but create a national standard for education.
“Working under President Obama forever changed how I see [America],” Kanter said. “I see this country as part of the world…. It takes so little, and we’re so behind.”
Getting into college “can’t just be the luck of the draw anymore,” she added,
