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Postsecondary access without a high school diploma: Lessons from the Louisiana’s five for six scholarship
Keywords
college access, community colleges, scholarship
Session Abstract
This session will highlight how one community college system is addressing postsecondary access and workforce demands through policy and practice. The Louisiana Community and Technical College System’s Five for Six Scholarship provides individuals without a high school diploma with a path towards college; a credential; and a high-wage, high-demand career.
Session Description
Often forgotten within postsecondary access research and literature is the adult learner without a high school diploma. There are approximately 29.2 million adults with no high school diploma nationally. It is estimated that 23% of citizens without a high school diploma live at or below the federal poverty limit, and their median wages are approximately 25% below those with a high school diploma (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019). Increasing the educational attainment of citizens without a high school diploma could have drastic, positive economic impacts for such individuals, communities, and the country.
The purpose of this session is to provide an overview of community colleges as a critical access point to higher education, specifically for individuals without a high school diploma. This session will highlight how the Louisiana Community and Technical College System is addressing both postsecondary access and workforce demands through the Five for Six Scholarship program. This unique scholarship provides individuals without a high school diploma with a path towards college, a credential, and a high-wage, high-demand career. The session will highlight both the success and challenges of the scholarship program, and provide recommendations for other community college leaders and practitioners for implementing a similar initiative in other states.