WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rebuilding America’s Middle Class (RAMC), a coalition of community colleges, issued the following statement on the Biden Administration’s proposal to provide two years of free community college under the president’s American Families Plan:

RAMC members support initiatives that remove barriers to the quality higher education programs necessary to better prepare students for good-paying jobs in high-demand fields. The Biden Administration’s proposal to provide two years of free community college takes a significant step forward in the fight to expand postsecondary access and provide individuals and their families with new opportunities for upward mobility, while also helping build a stronger pipeline of talent for the business community. 
 
However, any final policy framework should be careful to keep students’ needs at the forefront, allowing adequate flexibility for short-term credential pathways with Workforce Pell Grants and incorporating other valuable supports that help the most disadvantaged students not only persist, but excel in postsecondary education. We look forward to serving as collaborative partners as congressional leaders and the administration advance the policy framework around this proposal.