Title
Authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings to evaluate the efficacy of programs, services, initiatives and other supports that will be needed to support students in completing their community college degrees, and investigate the opportunities to establish and enhance partnerships between the City of Philadelphia and the Community College of Philadelphia to establish career track degree programs that result in employment with the City of Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia is committed to increasing the diversity of workplaces throughout Philadelphia, improving access to family sustaining jobs, expanding educational opportunities for all Philadelphians and reducing the poverty rate City-wide. Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) can help the City of Philadelphia make progress to these goals; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Kenney has stated that his vision for Community College of Philadelphia is that it is tuition free and that students facing issues like poverty, food insecurity, and child-care are not burdened into debt to obtain their education; and
WHEREAS, Community College of Philadelphia was founded in 1963 with an equal funding mandate, which requires equal funding from the state, City and students; and
WHEREAS, CCP's operating budget for this year was $133 million, with students picking up nearly 54-percent of the cost. The state contributed 24-percent and the City contributed 22-percent; and
WHEREAS, There are over 400 "tuition free" college programs nationwide; and
WHEREAS, In the 2018-2019 academic year the Community College of Philadelphia enrolled an estimated 26,081 students for credit and non-credit courses, with 16,672 enrolled full time; and
WHEREAS, Tuition at Community College of Philadelphia was an average of $5,100 per year in 2018-2019 and nearly 75-percent of all Community College of Philadelphia students receive financial aid; and
WHEREAS, Tuition isn't the only expense associated with obtaining a degree...
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