WASHINGTON, DC– Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) and Congressmen Tim Bishop (D-NY) and Vern Ehlers (R-MI) introduced bipartisan legislation today to help improve college access for low-income students. The Pathways to College Act would create a competitive grant program to help low-income school districts implement programs designed to increase the number of students who are entering and succeeding in college.

“America’s leadership in the global economy has always depended on the achievements and abilities of each generation of students. Today American students need to know more than ever to stay ahead,” said Bishop, a member of the House Education and Labor Committee. “This legislation will enable more students to successfully achieve college degrees so that America can continue to be a world leader for generations to come.”

“When schools focus on college and provide the tools to get there, students make the connection between the work they are doing now and their future goals,” said Durbin. “Students in those schools are more likely enroll in college and more likely to be prepared for college when they arrive. Bright, hardworking students deserve the opportunity to go as far as their talents will take them. Our bill tries to ensure that lack of information never prevents a student from achieving his or her college dream.”

Experts say that a lack of guidance and information about college has had a real effect on students in poor urban and rural schools.

Last year, the Chicago Public Schools began to voluntarily implement many of the programs that this bill would require, and their efforts have proven successful. Half of the students who graduated from Chicago Public Schools in 2007 enrolled in college - an increase of 6.5 percent in four years. That increase in college enrollment was more than six times the rate of increase compared to the rest of the country. In addition, the number of African-American graduates going to college has decreased nationally by six percent over the last four years while the Chicago rate has increased by almost eight percent.

Today’s bill attempts to take these promising trends in Chicago and replicate them nationally by:

* Providing professional development to high school teachers and counselors in college advising; arranging meetings for each student with an advisor to discuss college planning; providing on-going college and financial aid information to all students and parents; assisting students with college and financial aid applications, and ensuring that each school develops a comprehensive plan of action to strengthen its college-going culture.

The bill would also allow for other activities including:

* Establishment of college planning classes; hiring staff; training student leaders; hosting college fairs or college tours; establishing partnerships with community and nonprofit organizations; and providing long-term follow up with graduates.

The bill is supported by the following national organizations: the American School Counselor Association, College Summit, the Council for Opportunity in Education, the National Association for College Admissions Counseling, College Board, and ACT, Inc.