This resolution supports the designation of National College Application Month.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1232 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1232
Designating November 2020 as ``National College Application Month''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 19, 2020
Ms. Wild (for herself and Mr. Guthrie) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Designating November 2020 as ``National College Application Month''.
Whereas equality of opportunity for all people is one of the noblest aspirations
of the United States;
Whereas the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the employment rate for
young adults with a bachelor's degree and the employment rate for young
adults whose highest credential is a high school diploma differ by 20
percentage points, which has widened exponentially as a result of COVID-
19;
Whereas a 2015 study by Georgetown University identified that the average
lifetime earnings gap between college graduates and individuals with
only a high school diploma is $1,000,000;
Whereas the Pew Economic Mobility Project finds that whether a child born in the
lowest income quintile obtains a 4-year degree or higher credential is
associated with--
(1) an approximately 70 percent difference in the probability of that
child earning an income outside the lowest income quintile; and
(2) a threefold difference in the probability of that child going on to
earn an income in the highest income quintile;
Whereas colleges and universities report that enrollment in the number of
nontraditional students at colleges and universities remains steady and
is projected to rise in coming years;
Whereas the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that approximately 34 percent of
high school graduates in 2019 did not matriculate to an institution of
higher education the following fall semester, representing a decline in
the college enrollment of new high school graduates from the prior year,
most notably from among students of color;
Whereas the Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports that the unemployment rate
for recent high school graduates not enrolled in college in the fall
semester of 2019 was 18.2 percent, significantly higher than the
national unemployment rate;
Whereas many secondary students struggle to identify and assess postsecondary
options due to a number of factors, including insufficient information
on programmatic outcomes and difficulties in accessing effective or
consistent counseling services and resources;
Whereas the complexity of financial aid systems and processes, rising college
costs, and a shortage of effective financial education and literacy
programs can serve as additional deterrents or barriers for students and
families as they assess the viability of higher education programs as a
postsecondary option;
Whereas the United States built a thriving middle class in part by nurturing the
potential for colleges and universities to provide avenues to economic
opportunity;
Whereas data on the benefits of higher education demonstrate that, in spite of
ongoing barriers to access and student success, colleges and
universities can still provide pathways to economic opportunity;
Whereas the National Center for Education Statistics High School Longitudinal
Survey finds completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
is one of the best predictors of future college enrollment, as high
school seniors who complete the form are 84 percent more likely to begin
postsecondary education; and
Whereas the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on communities, families, and educational
systems across the country underscores and reinforces the value of
ensuring that all secondary school students have available and
understand all their postgraduation options: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the designation of ``National College
Application Month'';
(2) encourages the people of the United States to--
(A) evaluate options for pursuing higher education;
(B) submit a Free Application for Federal Student
Aid to understand college financing opportunities; and
(C) support every student, regardless of the
background or resources of the student, in obtaining
the skills and knowledge needed to thrive;
(3) supports efforts to better assist low-income and first-
generation students throughout the financial aid and college
application process;
(4) urges public officials, educators, parents, students,
and communities in the United States to observe ``National
College Application Month'' with appropriate activities and
programs designed to encourage students to consider, research,
and apply to college and for financial aid; and
(5) commends teachers, counselors, mentors, and parents who
support students throughout the college application process, as
well as the organizations and institutions partnering to
eliminate barriers to higher education.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
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