Obama’s Community College Proposal: A Contrary View

Obama”s proposal outlined in the prior post is blasted by American Enterprise Institute education director Frederick Hess in his latest blog-http://blog.american.com/

Hess says the proposal will not reform community colleges and is a subsidy for the status quo. He claims community colleges are an outmoded system that gives credentials of uncertain value. Even though community college completion rates are low Obama proposes to just let them process more bodies. Like the major education stimulus program, the administration talks about college  reform , but has no teeth in the proposal.

His critique can only be evaluated once we see the legislative language the President proposes. But the 12 billion over 10 years for community colleges implies a persistent effort if reform is to succeed. Whatever the outcome, Obama has put community colleges in the national limelight more than any President.