SUMMARY
This Idea Brief proposes the creation of a new Community College Capacity Development Fund to help community colleges meet increased demand for worker retraining.
Many of the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs since the start of the recession are returning to the classroom for retraining, contributing to a 10% increase in community college enrollment. At the same time, the state and local funds that provide the bulk of community college support are stretched incredibly thin, causing these schools to turn away students, defer maintenance, and freeze staff levels. This Idea Brief proposes the creation of a Community College Capacity Development Fund to direct supplemental resources to areas facing high unemployment and growing enrollment in order to help community colleges successfully meet the increased need for worker retraining.
