Greg Abbott unveiled the final phase of his Education Texans plan this week, which focuses on making higher education more accessible, affordable and accountable to all Texans.
One aspect of Greg Abbott’s higher education plan focuses on improving graduate rates, so more Texas students can climb whichever ladder of success they choose. To do this, we must address the growing costs of postsecondary learning.
Emphasis on higher education funding should be placed not just on the number of degrees an institution awards, but degrees awarded in critical fields, degrees awarded to at-risk students, the costs of those degrees, and the employment rate of graduates.
Greg Abbott’s plan proposes that a portion of future funding for public four-year institutions of higher education be based on outcomes – including performance and on-time graduation.
Today, an efficient way for high school students to get ahead and save future tuition dollars is through Advanced Placement (AP) exams. Unfortunately, not every institution of higher education in Texas will award college credit if a student earns a score that demonstrates college-level competency in the subject (which is a score of 3 by AP scoring standards). In 2012, more than 19,000 students from low-income families in Texas scored a 3 or higher on an AP exam.
Greg Abbott’s plan would require public colleges and universities to award college credit for AP scores of 3 or higher. This would save aspiring college graduates time and money, making higher education more affordable.
Another way to get credit for courses at a four-year institution is taking core classes at a community college. This is often utilized by high school students or returning adults. But sometimes, these students spend an additional year taking courses that do not ultimately transfer, wasting time and money.
The fourth phase of Educating Texans will make core freshman and sophomore courses more consistently transferable between community colleges and public colleges and universities.
About half of all college students in Texas attend school part-time while they work to help pay for their education.
Greg Abbott’s plan will adopt block-scheduling for all two-year degree programs, with morning, afternoon and evening blocks to make schedules more predictable to better plan for life’s responsibilities – like work and family.
