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Reflecting the opinion of thousands of affordable higher education advocates across the country, Jeff Denham, the US representative voiced his support for the four House bills passed separately to offer students across the country improved higher education access.

These four bills were passed especially to increase accessibility, transparency and affordability through acts such as the Student Empowerment through Enhanced Counseling Act, Education Demonstration Project Act through advancement of Competency Based education, Transparency Strengthening Act and Tax Simplification Act for students and their families.

It goes without saying that in order to achieve the American dream, it is imperative for us to focus on one of the key components namely the higher education says Denham. It is the need of the hour to make post-secondary education for Central Valley students and students across the country affordable and accessible through modernization.

Denham is one of the co-founders of the Caucus of California Public Higher Education and one of the goals of this organization is to assure students of secure jobs and future through modernization of higher education.

According to a PRC or Pew Research Center report, there was a startling 8.4 percent discrepancy in unemployment rate between those with just a high school diploma and those with a bachelor’s degree.
It is very evident that career attainment and overall economic well being depends on the college graduates who at every stage outperform their peers with less education. It is time to look into this trend carefully and devise ways and means to bring higher education access to a large population of students in our country.

This is the only way to ensure sustained economic growth and also make sure that our country once more gains its place at the top in terms of degree attainment and growth. According to Denham, to get a bachelor’s degree is to greatly enhance opportunities. Obtaining a post secondary degree therefore is very important for today’s young population.

The greatest obstacle towards achieving this is of course the skyrocketing cost of college. Even though we realize that the achievements of our children and grandchildren are the only measure of our economic success, we fail to take the necessary steps to curb tuition costs and provide more accessibility.

Denham says that in Central Valley itself, institutions such as Modesto Junior College and CSU Stanislaus are innovating and finding ways to rope in economically under privileged students.
He opines that the sustained efforts of these institutions will further be empowered through this legislation. It will ensure that students are not saddled with unmanageable debts through their lives and will also help families take the right decision regarding their children’s education.

The American Opportunity Tax Credit will be a great boon for aspiring students who will be able to leverage the benefits of the existing higher education tax benefits by combining these four measures. Denham says that families now will be able to make informed decisions with the help of clear information regarding choice of school and efficient federal financial aid process navigation.