Good Afternoon!
Last week the Biden Administration announced a much anticipated, but not surprising, extension to the student loan pause, which now delays loan repayment until August 31, 2022 (for those politicos: which is two months before the midterm elections when the pressure will mount to extend it again).
As we all know, paying for college has been an ongoing debate as institutions and government leaders continue to explore ways to make college more affordable. As part of the Higher Education Student Success legislation, which also created the Student Success and Workforce Revitalization Task Force, the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) convened a working group of postsecondary and secondary stakeholders to recommend ways to increase student completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The resulting Financial Aid Application Working Group Report outlined recommended steps for the state to take, in chronological order, that can lead to achieving the goal of at least 80% of graduating Colorado seniors submitting a FAFSA by July 2026.
Adult learners often face even more obstacles in securing funding to pursue or complete postsecondary credentials, which is an issue CDHE’s Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) and One Million Degrees (OMD) initiative is looking to solve with the launch of the “Finish What You Started” program. This two-year pilot program provides wrap-around support services for low-income adult learners in Adams County to work towards completing a postsecondary degree that may result in increased workforce earnings. Not only can this program help Colorado on the path to achieving the 66% credential attainment goal, but it can also be a model to scale and expand throughout the state to increase and support adult learner engagement in postsecondary education.
As many of you know, we like to highlight activities, convenings and conversations that are taking place across the state. This week, we want to bring attention to the weekly interactive conversations, hosted every Friday by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Experts on top education policy concerns such as dual enrollment and higher education are the topics for the coming months. This week the webinar topic is “Getting Women Back to Work.” Register for the weekly series here.
Next week, The Attainment Network (formerly the Denver Education Attainment Network, or DEAN) will host the Colorado Symposium: Learner Perspectives on Career-Connected Education. With a keynote address by Kristin McGuire, Executive Director of Young Invincibles, this symposium will feature a range of diverse learners and experts in conversations about incorporating youth voices in initiatives that support education to workforce pathways. The symposium will be held on Thursday, April 21 from 8:30am to 10:30am MT. You can register here.
And finally, if you or someone in your network is looking for a way to engage more deeply in the work at the intersection of education and employment, Colorado Succeeds, a nonpartisan nonprofit connecting Colorado learners and business leaders, has an excellent opportunity to join their team as a Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships at Colorado Succeeds.
Until next week,
Alison
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