29.12.2016 Views

ECONOMIC REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

2hzAyD3

2hzAyD3

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Better information and regulation of low-quality schools will also help<br />

students attend colleges that serve them well and enable them to pay back<br />

the debt they incur. The College Scorecard was a significant achievement,<br />

but additional efforts to improve the data’s usage, the consumer tool, and<br />

the underlying data will help to expand the impact of the Scorecard. The<br />

Administration’s efforts to protect students from low-quality schools have<br />

likewise been important accomplishments, and future policymakers must<br />

continue to be responsive to an ever-changing higher education landscape.<br />

Lastly, work remains to continue strengthening outcomes at earlier<br />

levels of education to help ensure that students enter college well prepared<br />

to benefit from their investment in higher education. Despite this<br />

Administration’s accomplishments, racial and socioeconomic gaps in<br />

PreK-12 educational inputs and outcomes remain, and these disparities<br />

must be addressed in tandem with the inequities in higher education access.<br />

ESSA has codified into law many initiatives created and championed by the<br />

Obama Administration to set the stage for this future policy, but further<br />

progress will require additional effort by policymakers.<br />

Conclusion<br />

The Obama Administration has enacted policies over its two terms<br />

to lower college costs, improve information, simplify student aid, and cap<br />

monthly student debt payments at a manageable portion of borrowers’<br />

incomes. The Administration has also promoted excellence and equity in<br />

PreK-12 education to better prepare students for college and their careers.<br />

Together, these policies represent a significant step forward in building an<br />

educational system that supports and encourages all Americans who wish to<br />

invest in an affordable, high quality college education to do so. Still, more<br />

work is needed to address the challenges that remain.<br />

348 | Chapter 5

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!