Cassidy’s bipartisan bill aims to lower higher ed costs for more students

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) on Aug. 5 cosponsored a bipartisan bill that would make college affordable and accessible by expanding access to dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college high school programs.

“The high price tag of higher education holds far too many Louisiana students back,” Sen. Cassidy said last week.

The Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act of 2021, S. 2620, which Sen. Cassidy introduced with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), would expand access for high school students to the opportunities offered in dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college high school programs established through partnerships between local educational agencies and institutions of higher education that enable such students to earn postsecondary credits while enrolled in a public high school, according to the text of the bill. 

“This bill reduces the financial strain on Louisiana families by making college and career level courses available to more high school students,” said Sen. Cassidy. “This creates a highly capable workforce that brings high-skilled jobs with good pay and benefits to our state and the rest of the country.”

Specifically, S. 2620 would allow money from the Higher Education Act Title VII Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education to be used by institutions of higher education to provide educators in dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college high school programming with professional development; assist students in covering education-related costs, such as tuition and fees, books and transportation; and support activities, such as course design, course approval processes, community outreach, student counseling, and support services, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Cassidy’s office. 

“This bipartisan bill will help students in Michigan and across the country earn college credit and pursue their dreams without having to take on crippling student loan debt that is damaging to their financial future,” said Sen. Peters.