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This morning, Dr. Jill Biden delivered remarks at DREAM 2015 — Achieving the Dream’s Annual Institute on Student Success — to highlight the Administration’s commitment to community colleges.
During her remarks, Dr. Biden said:
As a lifelong educator, I am proud to be part of an Administration that is committed to investing in our students, and restoring the promise of the American education system. In the depths of the recession, this Administration saw higher education as critical to our plans to revitalize the American economy, and moved quickly to support students and their families. We increased the dollar amount of Pell Grants as well as the number of students who qualify; increased tuition tax credits; let students cap their federal student loan payments at 10 percent of their income; and streamlined the financial aid process. We have invested $2 billion into over 1,000 colleges, to strengthen partnerships between community colleges and employers to create the next generation of skilled workers.
Just last year, the President and my husband Joe, the Vice President, launched an apprenticeship initiative — a partnership among community colleges and employers — to provide a career pathway for students and workers. And, as you heard during the State of the Union, President Obama announced his plan to make two years of community college free for responsible students.
Over the last six years, we have made real progress, but our work is nowhere near finished. This Administration will continue to make education a top priority because we believe all Americans deserve the opportunity to reach their full potential.
To learn more about the Administration’s efforts to strengthen community colleges, click here.