Improving Education & Preparing a 21st Century Workforce

Promoting Affordable & Accessible Higher Education

Education is so important for every American—for upward mobility, quality of life, and participation in civic and social life. But according to a recent National Journal poll, while 50% of Americans believe a higher level of education is the most effective way to stay in the middle class, 49% believe paying for college is only realistic for the upper class. Therefore, it’s an issue that should transcend politics at every level. Let’s focus on making higher education more accessible to more Americans—and more affordable. We can do this by bringing accountability and transparency to tuition costs, encouraging states to provide accessibility with $10,000 degrees and certainty with all-inclusive, guaranteed four-year pricing, using new technologies to lower costs, and holding schools accountable for their results.

YG Network Poll Data:

87% agree that “college tuition costs and the level of student debt are too high and need to be reduced” (May poll).
- Conservatives: 84% agree
- Moderates: 89% agree
- Liberals 89% agree

89% approve of requiring school budgets to be posted online so parents can see where money is being spent in their child’s school (May poll).
- Conservatives: 90% approve
- Moderates: 93% approve
- Liberals: 85% approve

78% approve of encouraging community colleges and state universities to offer four year, $10,000 degrees (May poll).
- Conservatives: 76% approve
- Moderates: 78% approve
- Liberals: 81% approve

72% approve of increasing online college courses as a way to reduce the cost of college tuition (May poll).
- Conservatives: 72% approve
- Moderates: 74% approve
- Liberals: 71% approve

YG Network Focus Group Data:

“Higher education is too expensive and is putting too much burden on kids.”
– Swing participant, Minneapolis

“If we want to remain a competitive country, then yes [the federal government should work to reduce the cost of higher education.]”
– Swing participant, Phoenix

YG Network Dial Tests:

Respondents value education, and the idea that people should pursue their dreams. Respondents have seen college costs spiral out of control over the past several years and they strongly support the idea of understanding the causes of tuition inflation. For them, this is an issue of transparency, accountability, and fairness. In their view, colleges and universities are doing a poor job controlling costs and the federal aid that colleges and universities receive drives up tuition prices. It is not fair to taxpayers and it is not fair to young people who are trying to improve their lives through higher education.

WHAT:	WHY:
Our hopes for our children
What do we want for our children? I think it’s fair to say that Americans want similar things. We want them to have happy childhoods, receive a good education, get good jobs, and live out their dreams. We want them to grow up with a strong sense of who we are as a people and the ties that bind us together as a nation. That story begins at home, but a large chunk of it is written at school.	Respondents value education, and the idea that people should pursue their dreams. This speaks to the heart of those values.
Education policy
We’ve got a lot riding on the educational establishment. The learning and formation our children receive at every level of their education sets them on a path that can determine what kind of jobs they will get; and what kind of lives they’ll lead; and what kind of citizens they’ll become. That will determine what kind of country we all will live in. So it’s crucial that we examine federal education policy at every level. Let’s focus on making higher education more accessible to more Americans, and more affordable.	It’s important to focus on the importance of education policy on our lives. Respondents believe that having the right federal policy at every education level is very important, and making higher education more accessible and more affordable should be our focus.
New technologies
New technologies need to play a role in accessibility. More colleges and universities are expanding their online course offerings and credit-by-exam options to accommodate more non-traditional students. The government should encourage the development of demanding, rigorous online courses in appropriate subjects.	Respondents believe that new technologies can play an important role in higher education accessibility, though some did express doubts regarding the quality of online classes. However, some Tea Party respondents expressed concern about the federal government’s role in this process.
Budget details
It’s no secret that college costs are skyrocketing.What is a secret is why these costs keep going up. It’s only fair that the students and families paying the bills know how their tuition and fees are spent. That’s why we should require any college that accepts federal funds to make their budget details available online. That way, students and parents are finally empowered with the transparency they deserve, and administrators are held accountable for their spending decisions.	Respondents think that students and their families deserve to know how their tuition dollars are being spent. This is an issue of accountability and transparency.
Increasing accessibility
Community colleges are a great and affordable option for associate degrees, vocational training, and continuing education. We should be encouraging community colleges and state universities to offer four-year, $10,000 degrees, so we can make higher education more accessible to more Americans.	Respondents strongly support making higher education more affordable and accessible to more Americans. Recognize that some respondents may question whether a $10,000 degree will provide a high-enough quality education.
All-inclusive, guaranteed pricing for four years
Freshmen often start college with tuition at one price level; four years later the price has gone up, often substantially. Surprise fees, such as activity fees, as well as the cost of textbooks, significantly add to the total cost of college. Schools should be encouraged to offer competitive, all-inclusive pricing, guaranteed for all four years.	Increasing and unpredictable tuition from year to year is an issue that some respondents have personally experienced. Respondents think that it is only fair that the cost of education is clear and stable so students and their families can adequately prepare for paying for college.
Helping students reach their goals
We also need to do more to help students reach their goal of successfully completing their education. At more than 500 colleges and universities, students are more likely to default on their student loans than to graduate. When it comes to the success of their students, colleges and universities that accept federal grants and subsidized loans should be held accountable. They need to do more to help their students, or we will limit their access to federal grants and subsidized loans.	Respondents believe that colleges and universities are not doing enough to help students reach their goal of successfully completing their education. Respondents believe that schools should be held accountable to do so, especially because they are accepting federal grants and subsidized loans.
Tuition increases and federal aid
College is expensive. And of course we want to help students with their college tuition. But it seems like the more federal aid colleges and universities get, the more the prices go up. Too often, taxpayer funds intended to help students obtain higher education instead end up supporting an ever-growing bureaucracy of college administrators, who in turn raise tuition in order to fund their own salaries and pet projects. We need to lift the curtain on the causes of tuition inflation, and encourage colleges and universities to do a better job of controlling costs and directing resources to the education of their students. We need to have an honest conversation about the role of federal aid and tax incentives in driving up tuition prices. Instead of asking taxpayers to pay higher taxes to fund increased federal aid, students should be asking their college administrations: Why are my tuition rates going up so much?	Respondents have seen college costs spiral out of control over the past several years and they strongly support the idea of understanding the causes of tuition inflation. For them, this is an issue of transparency, accountability, and fairness. In their view, colleges and universities are doing a poor job controlling costs and our language effectively conveys the fact that the federal aid that colleges and universities receive drives up tuition prices. It is not fair to taxpayers and it is not fair to young people who are trying to improve their lives through higher education.
Higher education tax credits
Families have enough to worry about as they budget for higher education costs. The IRS, for example, shouldn’t be making things even more complicated. We should replace the current complex and burdensome web of higher education tax credits with a single, simpler provision to assist eligible students and families, whether they are pursuing skills training or a university degree.	Respondents support the idea of simplifying our tax code, especially for those who are working to improve their lives through higher education.
The importance of education
Education is so important for every American: for upward mobility, for quality of life, for participation in civic and social life. America is a land rich with opportunity for anyone willing to work for it. Our discussions about education policy should transcend politics and special interests, and focus on giving our children and young people the tools they need to seize those opportunities. The strength of our nation and our people depends on it.	This language summarizes the entire argument for promoting affordable, accessible higher education.