,,iii #aag? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #ddi ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,novemb] #af1 #bjba,mr4 ,coons 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,scott ( ,s\? ,c>ol9a1 ,ms4 ,ern/1 ,mr4 ,grassley1 ,mr4 ,c>p]1 ,mr4 ,casey1 & ,mr4 ,van ,holl57 submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0 consid]$ & agre$ to ,,resolution ,designat+ ,novemb] #bjba z ,national ,college ,application ,mon?4 ,:]eas equality ( opportunity = all p is "o ( ! noble/ aspirations ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates has creat$ %>$ economic gr[? & /r5g!n$ civic engagem5t ?r\gh mak+ high] education widely available2 ,:]eas high] education enhances ! economic mobility ( individual /ud5ts & _! families1 :i* is evid5c$ by-- 7#a7 a f9d+ by ! ,brook+s ,in/itute t ! m$ian lifetime e>n+s ( hold]s ( an associate degree are uni=mly great] ?an ! m$ian lifetime e>n+s ( hold]s ( solely a high s*ool diploma2 7#b7 a f9d+ by ! ,pew ,economic ,mobility ,project t1 = an individual born 9 ! l[e/ income qu9tile1 obta9+ a #d-ye> degree or a high] degree is associat$ )-- 7,a7 an approximately #gj p]c5t diff]5ce 9 ! probability ( t individual e>n+ an income outside ! l[e/ income qu9tile2 & 7,b7 a ?reefold diff]5ce 9 ! probability ( t individual go+ on to e>n an income 9 ! highe/ income qu9tile2 7#c7 ! unemploym5t rate ( high s*ool graduates 9 #bjbj :o did n imm$iately matriculate to an in/itution ( high] education ! foll[+ fall seme/] 0 #ai4e p]c5t1 :i* has increas$ dur+ ! ,,covid-#ai p&emic & 0 almo/ #c times high] ?an ! ov]all unemploym5t rate ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 & 7#d7 ! unemploym5t rate ( adults ^: highe/ cr$5tial is a high s*ool diploma is almo/ d\ble t ( ^? ) a ba*elor's degree2 ,:]eas ! ,national ,/ud5t ,cle>+h\se reports t und]graduate enrollm5t 9 high] education has decl9$ precipit\sly s9ce ! beg9n+ ( ! ,,covid-#ai p&emic1 p>ticul>ly = /ud5ts 9 pov]ty & /ud5ts ( color1 z evid5c$ by-- 7#a7 #f4h p]c5t less high s*ool graduates imm$iately matriculat$ to an in/itution ( high] education ! foll[+ fall seme/] 9 #bjbj1 :i* repres5ts a decl9e #d4e times great] ?an ! decl9e f ! prior ye>2 7#b7 ! decl9e describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 0 mo/ notable among graduates at high pov]ty high s*ools1 :o fac$ an #aa4d p]c5t decl9e f #bjai 9 imm$iate matriculation to an in/itution ( high] education2 & 7#c7 ! decl9e describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 also disproportionately affect$ high s*ool graduates at high m9ority population s*ools :]e college enrollm5t decl9$ by #i4d p]c5t f #bjai1 :i* repres5ts a decl9e #aj times great] ?an ! decl9e f ! prior ye>2 ,:]eas ! complexity ( f9ancial aid sy/ems & ris+ college co/s c s]ve z additional det]r5ts or b>ri]s = /ud5ts & families z !y assess ! viability ( high] education programs z a po/second>y option2 ,:]eas _m /ud5ts & _! families /ruggle to id5tify & comp>e po/second>y options due to-- 7#a7 difficulties access+ s*ool c\nsel+ s]vices 9 high s*ool1 :i* is evid5c$ by an e/imation ( ! ,am]ican ,s*ool ,c\nselor ,association t ! /ud5t-to-c\nselor ratio 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates is #dbd to #a2 7#b7 an abs5ce ( reliable programmatic & in/itutional outcome data2 & 7#c7 a lack ( comp>able & und]/&able college f9ancial aid (f]s2 ,:]eas1 9 addition to exp&+ outrea* & support to rec5t high s*ool graduates1 colleges & univ]sities mu/ also exp& outrea* & support to adults )\t a po/second>y degree or cr$5tial2 ,:]eas ! mo/ rec5t data available f ! ,national ,po/second>y ,/ud5t ,aid ,/udy commission$ by ! ,national ,c5t] = ,education ,/ati/ics f\nd t1 ( und]graduate /ud5ts 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates-- 7#a7 approximately #bg p]c5t are old] ?an #be ye>s ( age2 7#b7 #ch p]c5t are enroll$ "p-"t2 7#c7 #bd p]c5t are p>5ts2 & 7#d7 #hf p]c5t live (f-campus2 ,:]eas ! ,national ,c5t] = ,education ,/ati/ics highlights t completion ( ! ,free ,application = ,f$]al ,/ud5t ,aid is "o ( ! be/ pr$ictors ( imm$iate college enrollm5t1 z high s*ool s5iors :o complete ! application are #hd p]c5t m likely to beg9 po/second>y education 9 ! fall foll[+ high s*ool graduation2 ,:]eas applications = ,/ate-bas$ f9ancial aid are available 9 _m ,/ates = /ud5ts :o d n qualify = ,f$]al /ud5t aid2 & ,:]eas ! ongo+ impact ( ! ,,covid-#ai p&emic on communities1 families1 & educational sy/ems across ! ,unit$ ,/ates und]scores & re9=ces ! value ( ensur+ t all individuals1 includ+ /ud5ts enroll$ 9 high s*ool & work+ adults-- 7#a7 und]/& _! po/second>y options2 7#b7 und]/& college f9anc+ opportunities2 & 7#c7 h support to navigate ! college application & f9ancial aid processes3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x ,t ! ,s5ate-- 7#a7 designates ,novemb] #bjba z ,national ,college ,application ,mon?2 7#b7 enc\rages ! p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to-- 7,a7 evaluate options = pursu+ high] education2 7,b7 submit a ,free ,application = ,f$]al ,/ud5t ,aid or an appropriate application = ,/ate-bas$ f9ancial aid 9 ord] to receive college f9anc+ opportunities2 & 7,c7 support e /ud5t1 reg>dless ( ! backgr\nd1 age1 or res\rces ( ! /ud5t1 9 obta9+ ! skills & k ne$$ to ?rive2 7#c7 supports ef=ts to bett] assi/ & increase opportunities = l[-income1 fir/-g5]ation college /ud5ts1 & /ud5ts ( color1 ?r\gh\t ! f9ancial aid process1 college application process1 & beyond2 7#d7 urges public (ficials1 educators1 families1 /ud5ts1 & communities 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates to obs]ve ,national ,college ,application ,mon? ) appropriate activities & programs design$ to enc\rage /ud5ts & families to consid]1 rese>*1 & apply to college & = f9ancial aid2 & 7#e7 comm5ds tea*]s1 s*ool c\nselors1 m5tors1 & families :o support /ud5ts ?r\gh\t ! college application process1 z well z ! organizations & in/itutions p>tn]+ to elim9ate b>ri]s to high] education4