Designating November 2020 as "National College Application Month".

IV 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 em- ployment 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 percent- age 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 di- ploma is $1,000,000; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:43 Nov 20, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1232.IH HR1232 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 1232 IH 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 approxi- mately 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 col- lege 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 unemploy- ment rate; Whereas many secondary students struggle to identify and assess postsecondary options due to a number of factors, including insufficient information on programmatic out- comes and difficulties in accessing effective or consistent counseling services and resources; Whereas the complexity of financial aid systems and proc- esses, rising college costs, and a shortage of effective fi- VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:43 Nov 20, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1232.IH HR1232 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 1232 IH nancial education and literacy programs can serve as ad- ditional 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 univer- sities to provide avenues to economic opportunity; Whereas data on the benefits of higher education dem- onstrate 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 un- derscores 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 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘National Col- 2 lege Application Month’’; 3 (2) encourages the people of the United States 4 to— 5 (A) evaluate options for pursuing higher 6 education; 7 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:43 Nov 20, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR1232.IH HR1232 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 1232 IH (B) submit a Free Application for Federal 1 Student Aid to understand college financing op- 2 portunities; and 3 (C) support every student, regardless of 4 the background or resources of the student, in 5 obtaining the skills and knowledge needed to 6 thrive; 7 (3) supports efforts to better assist low-income 8 and first-generation students throughout the finan- 9 cial aid and college application process; 10 (4) urges public officials, educators, parents, 11 students, and communities in the United States to 12 observe ‘‘National College Application Month’’ with 13 appropriate activities and programs designed to en- 14 courage students to consider, research, and apply to 15 college and for financial aid; and 16 (5) commends teachers, counselors, mentors, 17 and parents who support students throughout the 18 college application process, as well as the organiza- 19 tions and institutions partnering to eliminate bar- 20 riers to higher education. 21 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:43 Nov 20, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR1232.IH HR1232 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS