Lawmakers view bills to lower college costs, increase degree completion
The Legislature’s Education and Cultural Affairs Committee is reviewing two bills sponsored by Sen. Rebecca Millett, D-Cape Elizabeth, that seek to reduce out-of-pocket costs for college and increase post-secondary degree attainment rates for Maine students.
Both bills received public hearings before the committee on Monday.
LD 32, “An Act To Increase the Size of Grants under the Maine State Grant Program,” would increase the minimum grant per eligible student from $1,000 to $2,000. The Maine State Grant Program is the primary need-based grant program available to Maine’s post-secondary students. Post-secondary education includes not only two- and four-year degrees, but technical and vocational programs the bestow professional certificates.
LD 43, “Resolve, To Establish the Task Force To Study Higher Education Attainment and Completion Goals,” would create a task force to establish post-secondary degree completion goals, review and report progress annually and provide guidance on ways to meet the goals. Currently, Maine does not have established attainment goals, which makes it difficult to measure the state’s success in college degree attainment.
“The Maine Legislature’s Commission to Study College Affordability and Completion found that many Maine college students have real trouble paying for their education,” Millett, who serves on the committee, said in a statement accompanying a release about her two bills. “Increasing the minimum grant amount in the Maine State Grant Program will help shrink the gap between their college bills and their ability to pay.”
Millett said her second bill is intended to improve Maine’s graduation rates, which lag behind other New England states and the nation. The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce estimates that 65% of U.S. jobs by 2020 will require some form of post-secondary education. For Maine's working population age 25 to 64, college attainment is 39.9% compared to 46.7% in New Hampshire, 45.5% in Vermont and 51.5 % in Massachusetts.
“Businesses know that one of our economy’s greatest needs is a well-trained, educated workforce capable of fulfilling the needs of today’s economy,” she said. “This bill will put us on track toward strengthening Maine’s workforce and help building a stronger economy.”
The Education and Cultural Affairs Committee will make recommendations on the two bills in the coming weeks. Both bills will be subject to votes in the House and Senate.
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