🔒Bill would create new office, expand college aid in $35M push to boost completion rates

A wide-ranging proposal before state lawmakers would create a new office to coordinate higher education programs, expand financial aid and invest millions of dollars in an effort to improve college completion rates in Connecticut. Raised Bill 380, to be discussed Tuesday during a Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, implements recommendations from a state task force focused on expanding “promise programs” and improving postsecondary outcomes. At the center of the proposal is the creation of an Office of Postsecondary Success, which would operate within the state Department of Education and oversee efforts to increase college enrollment, affordability and graduation rates. The office would coordinate existing scholarship programs, promote awareness of available aid and collect data on student outcomes, including enrollment, graduation and costs, broken down by income and demographic groups. The bill also seeks to expand and standardize “promise programs,” which provide scholarships along with support services such as mentoring and internships. Under the proposal, existing programs would receive $3,000 per student annually, while the state would work to establish at least eight new programs by 2031, with a focus on lower-income school districts. Lawmakers have proposed allocating $4.8 million in the next fiscal year to support those efforts. A key component of the bill is the creation of a new “Scholar Success Grant” program, which would provide income-based financial aid to Connecticut students attending in-state colleges. Under the program, eligible students would receive grants covering a percentage of their remaining college costs after other financial aid is applied. For students attending public colleges and universities, the state would cover between 24% and 40% of those costs, depending on household income. Students attending private nonprofit colleges would receive smaller grants, ranging from 8% to 20%. To qualify, students must be Connecticut residents who graduate from a high school in the state, enroll in college within a year and attend full time, among other requirements. The proposal includes a $30 million appropriation to fund the grant program in the next fiscal year. In addition to expanding aid, the bill would require participating colleges to provide additional support services, including first-year experience programs, financial literacy training and dedicated advising for students from enrollment through graduation. The measure has garnered backing from a broad cross-section of the state’s higher education system, including public and private colleges, local scholarship initiatives and business organizations. The bill also includes new reporting requirements aimed at tracking student outcomes and improving accountability for state-funded programs. Supporters include leaders from the University of Connecticut, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, Yale University, Trinity College, Sacred Heart University and the University of St. Joseph, along with organizations such as the Connecticut Business & Industry Association and the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce. They say the changes are intended to address both the cost of college and the non-financial barriers that can prevent students from completing their degrees. If approved, the measure would take effect July 1.