Friends,

Earlier this month, I spoke with PBS News Hour about a topic I am especially passionate about — making community college free.

I was proud to make the case for President Biden’s proposal to make community college free and invest in essential supports like counselors and childcare that will help students not just start but finish their degrees and certificates. The Biden plan builds on the proposal we made during the Obama Administration when I was Secretary of Education for free community college. It is time for Congress to take action and give states the support they need.

Now, more than ever, we need to make community college free and accessible to everyone. Maryland has led the way with free community college for many of its students that qualify, but as we come out of the pandemic, it will be important to strengthen and expand this program.

Lessons from the 2008 financial crisis have shown that a more educated workforce improves people's life circumstances and spurs economic recovery holistically.

Making all aspects of community college free allows our nation to help support folks who may need this degree to better support their family or to move up at their job. It will create new pathways to economic opportunity for folks who historically are locked out of financial success.

I am a prime example of how a good education can change a life. Strengthening free community college would be a huge step in the right direction for closing opportunity gaps.

If you agree and see the great value in free community college, please sign our petition today to have your voice heard. →