Adult education providers have always been on the frontlines of advancing economic mobility and racial equity. But lack of resources is consistently a formidable challenge. For example, in fiscal year 2019, the federal government spent $57.9 billion on K-12 education (one-sixth of what states spent), compared to $641,955,000 on adult education (33% of what states spent). However, recent developments over the last few years have opened a door to a relatively unused source of aid for adult students seeking postsecondary education and credentials. The Ability to Benefit (ATB or A2B) provision of the federal student financial aid system (Title IV of the Higher Education Act) allows adults without a high school diploma or equivalent to qualify for federal student financial aid, including Pell Grants, if they can prove their ability to benefit from higher education and if partners put together eligible career pathway programs. Individuals demonstrate their ability in one of three ways:
- Pass an independently administered test approved by the U. S. Department of Education;
- Complete a state process approved by the Secretary of Education; or
- Complete at least six credit hours or 225 clock hours that are applicable toward a Title IV-eligible degree or certificate (sans federal student aid).
As adult educators know, if adult education students could quickly and easily pass a test, they would pass the GED or another high school equivalency exam and be eligible for financial aid. So, door #1 above is not all that promising of an option. Regarding door #2, only a handful of states in recent years have even attempted this option and now just a handful of states have an approved state plan now including WI, WA, IA, MS, and most recently, IL. Door #2 is not a common option now but does have promise.
What about door #3: completing six credit hours without federal student financial aid? As we know, it is almost impossible for adult education students with very limited financial means to afford the average $3,800 in tuition and fees for one-year at a community college, much less more expensive institutions or the other costs of attendance (books, supplies, equipment, room, board, child care, etc.). Even attending half time, at $1,900, would be a stretch. Some colleges have attempted this option, cobbling together various other forms of financial aid such as state workforce development and philanthropic funds to support students. The Mississippi MIBEST ATB program has been quite successful with this approach: 48% of the 2018 MIBEST cohort earned college or industry credentials, while 21% attained higher level certificates or associate degrees; 70% MIBEST completers were employed and nearly doubled their average earnings.
But what if we could find a more steady source of funding to support ATB students during those first six credit hours? This was the driving question leading to the development of the A2B4Equity pilot program recently launched by Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW) and the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh, and funded by ECMC Foundation. World Education, Inc. is providing technical assistance to the participating colleges and states.
This two-year pilot program will test using college promise program funding to pay for the first six credit hours of ATB students’ college and credential journey. Once these students successfully pass the first six credit hours, they will be eligible for federal student financial aid such as Pell Grants. The pilot will focus specifically on Black, Hispanic, and other underserved students who have traditionally been left behind in both secondary and postsecondary.
Almost half the states in the US have some sort of college promise program and there are hundreds of local and regional programs across the country. These programs “promise” some level of funding for college to students who successfully complete high school (programs vary widely in their requirements, how much funding, and who is eligible). These programs have almost always focused on high school students. But we asked: why not adult education students?
Four community colleges will participate in the pilot — two in the City Colleges of Chicago system and two in the state of Michigan. The City Colleges of Chicago colleges will use grant funding to pay for the first six credit hours for ATB adult students who will simultaneously earn their high school equivalency and a short-term college credential. The two Michigan colleges will use Michigan Reconnect adult college promise funds to pay for the first six credit hours.
Black and Hispanic students are overrepresented in adult education and underrepresented in postsecondary education. Improving access to federal student financial aid and postsecondary education and credentials helps to address equity gaps.
A goal of the project is to learn from the pilot and codify the use of college promise funding to support ATB students earning eligibility for federal student aid to continue their studies. The pilot program began in spring 2022 and will last through April 2024. CSW and the University of Pittsburgh will share outcomes, findings, and lessons learned throughout the project and in a final report. We also will publish a “how to” guide on how adult education and colleges in partnership can leverage college promise funding to support ATB students in their first 6 credit hours of college and in earning federal student aid eligibility.
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