Congress Should Include Postsecondary STEM Pathways in US Innovation and Competition Act and COMPETES Act Negotiations

All4Ed and the College in High School Alliance—joined by 62 national organizations, state organizations, systems of higher education, colleges, and school districts—sent a letter to Congressional leaders expressing support for including the Postsecondary STEM Pathways program in any final conference negotiation on the US Innovation and Competition Act and America COMPETES Act that have been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, respectively.

The Postsecondary STEM Pathways Grant Program would authorize competitive grants to states to align their policies supporting advanced coursework and postsecondary transitions to expand access and success for students on a STEM pathway. States will be able to use grant funds for a wide variety of activities aligned to their needs in order to expand STEM postsecondary pathways for more students. Investment in college in high school programs such as dual enrollment, concurrent enrollment, and early college high school will significantly advance college access, affordability, and completion for all students, particularly students from low-income, historically marginalized backgrounds, and first-generation college students.