To encourage students to attend college, an increasing number of states are creating policy initiatives designed to help low-income and minority students solve the college access puzzle. The best plans provide support to overcome all of the barriers that these students face—academic preparation, information and guidance, and affordability.

Maine and Wisconsin are two of the latest states to work on initiatives that promote college access. Will an increased federal role be far behind?

Maine

In Maine—where only 50 percent of high school graduates attend college directly out of high school—the legislature is considering a bill that would require every student fill out a college application in order to graduate from high school.

Some critics fear that Maine colleges will not have the capacity to meet the new demand. But really, is this a bad problem for the state to have? If so many Maine students want to attend college that all the spots in existing schools are filled, it’s great news for the state. The legislature can address that problem if / when it happens. Opponents also maintain that the policy forces students who are not really interested in college to fill out an application. However, while it does require them to fill out an application, it does not require them to attend. Simply filling out a college application is not an overly burdensome demand. And putting the college option on students’ radar is worthwhile, even if they don’t choose to go the college route.

Higher Ed Watch thinks that Maine’s application initiative is a good first step. Students who hadn’t thought college was possible will be given an external reason to apply—hopefully causing them to think about the option more seriously. (Note: Maine was among the first states to require students to take the SAT during their junior year of high school, which fills in another piece of the application puzzle.)

But in order for Maine’s program to be successful, high schools must also provide guidance counselors and information support, not to mention the necessary academic preparation. And Maine should consider how financial aid can be structured to guarantee students that college also will be financially possible. Otherwise, unanswered questions about affordability will continue to limit access.

Wisconsin

In Wisconsin—where only 59 percent of high school graduates attend college directly out of high school—Governor Jim Doyle is crafting a more comprehensive policy that targets students early and includes financial aid. The Wisconsin Covenant allows 8th grade students to sign a covenant that guarantees them adequate funding and a spot at a public, private, or technical college in Wisconsin. In order to fulfill their side of the covenant, however, students must maintain a B average, take college preparatory course work, act as good citizens, and apply for state and federal financial aid on a timely basis.

Details about how the program would actually work are still being finalized, but in its current form, it could be one of the most comprehensive college access initiatives in the country. We fear the merit component of the Wisconsin Covenant could have a disparate impact on minority and low-income students, not to mention encourage grade inflation in high school. Still Doyle’s plan reaches out to students early, sets out a practical path towards college (while giving students responsibility—and hopefully the tools—to adhere to that path), and promises that if they hold up their end of the bargain, they’ll be able to get in and afford it. It remains to be seen how financial aid will be distributed (loans or grants), and how comprehensive or targeted it will be. But we are encouraged that Wisconsin’s proposal includes many of the components necessary to make it successful.

Other states

A number of states have high school – college access programs, including Indiana’s Twenty First Century Scholars Program and Oklahoma’s Promise. The limited research available from Oklahoma and Indiana shows positive results. In Oklahoma, 70 percent of participants completed the program, and they went on to enroll in college at higher rates than their counterparts. In Indiana, 85 percent of program participants enroll in college, compared to 66 percent of non-participants.

A few other states, like Georgia, Florida, and Nevada, have merit-based college access programs that provide tuition assistance, but they aren’t specifically targeted to low and middle income students.

Another issue to watch, as pointed out in a guest blog two weeks ago, is the potentially problematic requirements attached to some of the new state policies that would build fences between states by offering incentives to students to stay in state after college.

Federal Role

With a growing number of states interested in policies that promote college access, in addition to an upcoming Presidential election, will there be increased interest in expanding the federal role in this area? We certainly hope so.

There are already a handful of federally-supported college access programs, like GEAR UP, but they are limited and only receive a small amount of funding. As states continue to experiment with their own programs, the federal government should look to the states and disseminate the lessons learned about what works and what doesn’t to expand access.

Two Democratic hopefuls, John Edwards and Senator Barack Obama, recently came out with higher education proposals. Obama’s proposal is focused primarily on restructuring the student loan system. (Disclosure: The editor of Higher Ed Watch was consulted by an Obama representative prior to the candidate's announcement.) But Edwards’ "College Opportunity Agenda" goes further and specifically targets barriers to college access. His proposal would allow all students to attend a year of public college for free, on the condition that they take college preparatory courses in high school, work or participate in community service activities part-time during college, and avoid discipline issues in high school. (Disclosure: the editor of Higher Ed Watch helped Edwards put together his original ‘College For Everyone’ plan in 2004.) Edwards’ 2008 version also includes a program to hire additional guidance counselors at high schools eligible for Title I funding. And not long ago, Senator Hillary Clinton spoke at length about college access at a New America Foundation forum on big new ideas. (Editor’s Note: The editor of Higher Ed Watch has also given recommendations to Republican Presidential candidates.)

Higher education is an issue that none of the candidates can afford to ignore. And while piecemeal suggestions may sound good, the only way to really solve the college access problem is with a comprehensive plan that addresses academics, information, and affordability. Anything less will be a disappointment and disservice.

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