Gov. Patrick’s Readiness Project Recommendations

Governor Deval Patrick’s Education Action Agenda, released last week, offers concrete, near-term recommendations that will help low-income families achieve economic self-sufficiency by gaining access to higher education.

Further, the Governor commits his administration to the goal of establishing by the year 2020 a public education system that guarantees access to free community college or the equivalent post-secondary or vocational education.

His short-term (2008-2011) agenda includes:

• Increasing needs-based financial aid for higher education to low-income students and extend and pro-rate the same benefit to part-time students, beginning with the fiscal year 2010 budget.
• Creating a pilot program to provide community college opportunities to: 1) early education and care educators in exchange for several years of service in the early education and care workforce; and 2) parents or guardians of income-eligible students in the pre-K through 12 system.

The final report of the Governor’s Readiness Project, Ready for 21st Century Success: The New Promise of Public Education outlines a ten-year strategic plan for education reform in Massachusetts. The Governor’s Education Action Agenda is the culmination of nearly a year of work undertaken by the Readiness Project—a statewide initiative involving more than 200 educators, business leaders, and community leaders.

CWU commends the Governor for identifying short-term objectives that will move us in the direction of full access to community college for anyone who seeks it, regardless of personal or family financial constraints. This is a constructive first step toward removing the many obstacles working families face to attending community college.

CWU will keep you informed on how you can join with us to support the advancement of these important recommendations, which would have significant impact on the futures of those we serve.

• Click here to read the full report, Ready for 21st Century Success: The New Promise of Public Education
• Click here to learn more about the Readiness Project.