Melanie Ali

While higher education remains a critical determinant for economic mobility in the United States, high tuition costs pose barriers for millions of students. Each year, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) provides approximately $112 billion in grant, work-study, and loan funds to help over 10 million students pay for postsecondary education.

Improving the skills and career pathways of the many adults who struggle with literacy, numeracy, and English proficiency is the key goal of federal adult education policy. Title II of the 2014 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act encourages state agencies and local providers to find ways to facilitate postsecondary enrollment, credential attainment and higher earnings for the nearly one million learners who participate in adult education programs. One promising approach is providing these

Higher-level skills are increasingly required to succeed in the American workforce, and yet many adults in the United States face barriers in attaining them. Over 25 million adults have not earned a high school diploma or its equivalent. Even among those with at least a secondary credential, a lack of proficiency with the English language can be a significant barrier to a family-sustaining income and to full integration as citizens. Congress has sought to help individuals address these challen

College application and financial aid processes are complicated and can be barriers to entry, particularly for those not coming directly from high school. The U.S. Department of Education-funded Educational Opportunity Centers (EOCs) work with low income or potential first-generation college goers to address these barriers. The EOCs, mostly drop-in offices at colleges and community-based organizations, typically operate with a small cadre of staff and are required to serve a large number of in