Left Turns

Helping more Americans pursue higher education has long been a national priority. Individuals who complete advanced levels of education are more likely to succeed in the workforce and live more productive lives. Unfortunately, America’s higher education system has become too costly, too bureaucratic, and too outdated to effectively serve students, families, and taxpayers.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan recently praised the administration’s efforts intended to reverse these disappointing trends, declaring, “I’m proud to say that our administration has taken unprecedented action” and “has done a lot to help pave the way for progress.” “Progress”? That's hard to believe, because since the president took office:

• College costs have continued to rise at an alarming rate.

• National student loan debt eclipsed the $1 trillion mark, with one analysis of government data suggesting the average graduate now owes more than $35,000 in student loan debt.

• Despite historically high spending on federal student aid, the college enrollment rate for low-income high school graduates declined.

As for “unprecedented action,” the Obama administration has:

• Enacted irresponsible policies that place the Pell Grant program on the path to bankruptcy.

• Concocted (and later abandoned) an arbitrary college rating system that would have discouraged innovation and denied access.

• Implemented punitive regulations that drive up college costs and reduce access.

• Further complicated a maze of student loan repayment plans that encourages students to over-borrow and leaves taxpayers to foot the bill.

• Touted a multi-billion dollar “free” community college proposal that will siphon limited resources away from existing efforts to help students pursue an education.

Spending more money on more programs and more regulations will not strengthen America’s higher education system. That much we’ve learned over the last six years. To learn what a better approach to improving higher education looks like, stay tuned.

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