Pathways to College Act

The Pathways to College Act is legislation with bipartisan sponsorship in the 111th Congress that would improve the college-going rates of the neediest students through investment in college counseling, and focusing on the role of the school counselor in student achievement and college access.  It is based in part from NACAC recommendations and conclusions from the report from the Consortium on Chicago School Research, "From High School to the Future: Potholes on the Road to College."

  

ESEA Proposal for Eliminating Barriers to College Awareness

Title I - Allowable Uses of Funds and Recommended Amendments

Title II - Professional Development and Recommended Amendments

 

Congressional News

Pathways to College Act Bill Text:

HR 2579 - House of Representatives of the 111th Congress

S 1129 - Senate of the 111th Congress

Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL): Pathways to College Act News Release

Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY): Pathways to College Act News Release

Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL): Floor Statement on Pathways to College Act

 
NACAC Resources

School Counselors Contribute to College Access and Success

Effects of the Financial Crisis page

Talking Points to the Pathways to College Act 

Policy Brief: School Counseling and College Access

 
Supporters of the Pathways to College Act in the 111th Congress

Pathways to College Act Sponsors
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY-1)

Pathways to College Act Cosponsors:
Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) - lead Senate cosponsor
Sen. Robert Casey (D-PA)
Sen. Al Franken (D-MN)
Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA)
Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY)
Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-MI-3) - lead House cosponsor
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL-11)
Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH-1)
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA-4)
Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA-53)
Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (D-MO-1)
Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO-2)
Rep. Henry "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA-4)
Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI-1)
Rep. Michael M. Honda (D-CA-15)
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-16)
Rep. Timothy J. Walz (D-MN-1)
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-25)
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN-9)
De. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-At Large)
Rep. Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (D-IL-2)
Rep. Lynn C. Woolsey (D-CA-6)
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA-34)
Rep. Paul D. Tonko (D-NY-21)
Rep. Todd R. Platts (R-PA-19)
Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT-2)
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN-5)
Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA-7)
Rep. Steve Kagen (D-WI-8)
Rep. Steven R. Rothman (D-NJ-9)
Rep. Robert A. Brady (D-PA-1)
Rep. John A. Yarmuth (D-KY-3)
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1)
Del. Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU-At Large)
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN-4)
Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY-14)
Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI-4)
Rep. Patrick J. Murphy (D-PA-8)
Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN-7)
Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH-17)
Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA-51)
Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD-7)
Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI-2)
Rep. John Barrow (D-GA-12)
Rep. Michael F. Doyle (D-PA-14)
Rep. Phil Hare (D-IL-17)
Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA-38)

 

 Must Reads

 

Barriers to College Attainment: Lessons from Chicago, Consortium on Chicago School Research and Center for American Progress

While college enrollment numbers continue to rise, and more low-income minority and first generation students are pursuing postsecondary education, college completion numbers remain stagnant. This report from the Consortium on Chicago School Research and Center for American Progress focuses on contributing factors to higher college completion rates summarizes a massive study and presents recommendations to attain the stated goals. The report includes detailed analysis of school data and suggests data collection can inform improvements to high school curricula and increase guidance and support throughout high school and the college process.

Removing Roadblocks to Rigor: Linking Academic and Social Supports to Ensure College Readiness and Success, Institute for Higher Education Policy's Pathways to College Network

 Education reform focuses strongly on the strength of the curriculum and challenging course loads for all students. While academic rigor is very important, a comprehensive academic and social foundation is necessary to support and enable students to be successful. This report by the Pathways to College Network examines five interdependent categories of support—emotional, instrumental, informational, appraisal, and structural—provided to students by their teachers, counselors and administrators that help students to develop the necessary skills and strategies to succeed in secondary and postsecondary institutions.

Increasing College Access through School-Based Models of Postsecondary Preparation, Planning, and Support, Educators for Social Responsibility

Urban, minority, and low-income students attend and graduate college in dismal rates when compared to suburban, white, and middle or upper class students. This report unpacks some of the contributing factors, and provides strategies, models, and recommendations to address and improve the situation. Increasing access to postsecondary education for all students requires a concerted and multilateral effort, focusing not only on individual school practices, but district- and nation-wide policies as well. 

Despite serving large proportions of minority, low-income and limited English proficient students, the administrators, counselors and teachers at Hidalgo ISD have significantly increased college access in their border town community by preparing all students to earn college credit while still in high school. This report, prepared by Jobs for the Future, examines the district-wide strategies and encouraging outcomes of Hidalgo’s early college program. It can serve as a useful guide for both local and national policymakers seeking to help students achieve in the challenging environments and close racial and economic the achievement gaps.