While the U.S. economy has certainly improved since the great recession, far too many Americans are still without a high-quality degree or credential despite the economy’s increasing demand for postsecondary education to meet workforce needs. Low credential attainment has resulted in millions of Americans without high-quality jobs, and numerous employers unable to find the skilled workers they need to remain competitive. Yet, today’s federal law governing postsecondary education (the Higher Education and Opportunity Act of 2008) is outdated and does not effectively address the needs of today’s postsecondary students who are more diverse than ever and have responsibilities and needs that are also more complex.

JFF offers Congress a set of recommendations for consideration in the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act to transform the nation’s higher education system to meet the increasingly complex needs of today’s students and increase the number of postsecondary students who attain needed credentials.