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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 9, 2023 03:04 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Mark Rozzi |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Establishing the Affordability of College Education Scholarship Program |
| Across the country, higher education is still not accessible to everyone. National data shows that the country fails at providing equitable access to postsecondary education, and the main obstacle is affordability. In Pennsylvania, in-state college tuition costs on average $23,498 annually, which is over $8,500 higher than the national average. This ranks Pennsylvania as the fifth most expensive state in which to pursue a degree. These costs are simply not affordable for many individuals in low-income households. While the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) works to provide affordable education to thousands of students across the state, we need to do more to increase accessibility to everyone. All Pennsylvania residents deserve a fair chance to receive an education despite their background. That is why I am introducing legislation that would create the Affordability of College Education Scholarship (ACES) Program. Under this program, PASSHE would receive dedicated funding to provide scholarship awards and emergency grants to low-income students to cover costs of attendance, including tuition, living expenses, supplies, childcare, and disability expenses. This legislation will help make higher education an option for so many individuals across Pennsylvania. Higher education, especially within our state-owned system, should be a right and not a privilege. I hope you will join me in supporting this legislation that will improve our education system and our residents’ quality of life. |
Introduced as HB676