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Floor Speech

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Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I rise today to introduce the Success for Rural Students and Communities Act. This bipartisan bill would help students living in rural areas achieve their higher education goals and connect them with the economic opportunities in their communities. I want to thank Senator Hassan for coleading this legislation with me.

Today, employers often require something more than a high school diploma, such as a college degree, a skilled trade credential, or a professional certificate. Yet, rural students may face barriers to pursuing postsecondary education. Although rural students tend to graduate from high school at about the same rate as their suburban peers, they go on to enroll in college at a lower rate. Rural students also tend to have lower full-time retention rates in postsecondary education than their urban and suburban peers.

Maine's experience is consistent with these national trends. According to census data, two out of three Maine schools are in rural communities, and more than half of Maine students attend those schools. More than 86 percent of Maine students graduate from high school, but only about 60 percent enroll in higher education right away. Unfortunately, an even lower percentage of Maine students go on to actually earn a degree, often leaving them with debt and without the credential.

The Success for Rural Students and Communities Act would help by encouraging the creation of community partnerships to promote strategies that make it easier for rural students to access college and career pathways. Community stakeholders--such as local school districts, colleges and universities, regional economic development entities, and community organizations--would join together to help students and their families navigate higher education opportunities and address barriers that too often stand in their way.

For example, many of these students are the first in their families to attend college, so they may have a more difficult time finding information about financial aid or selecting an educational program that meets their needs. Partnerships could work together to expose students to college campuses, courses, programs, and internships. They could also focus on the enrollment and completion rates of rural nontraditional students who did not pursue or complete postsecondary education after high school but may find they need additional credentials to pursue their chosen career path.

To help rural students gain the skills and experience needed to enter and succeed in the workforce, partnerships would also be encouraged to develop strategies for putting students on pathways into the high- demand jobs available in their communities. For example, partnerships could test various work-based learning opportunities, including apprenticeships, internships, and a sequence of courses on the path to a certain skill or job. By helping to connect students with good-paying jobs where they live, this bill would also ensure that rural communities benefit from their students' success.

In Maine's Aroostook County, the Aroostook Aspirations Initiative is using this model to help put students on pathways to academic and career success in their communities. The initiative collaborates with local community colleges and universities and with area businesses to offer seminars that guide students throughout their college educations. These seminars cover topics like time and stress management, budgeting and finances, goal setting, and transitioning from college to career. Certain seminars are focused on providing a more detailed look at various career fields, such as nursing, education, criminal justice/law enforcement, and banking/financial services. Students can also team up with employers in the area through internships that give them experience in the careers they wish to pursue.

Since 2012, the Aroostook Aspirations Initiative has served over 190 students, known as Gauvin Scholars, named for Ray and Sandy Gauvin, who started the program. According to the initiative, their students have a 94-percent college graduation rate--well above the rate for their local colleges overall--and more than 90 percent of Gauvin Scholars remain in Aroostook County to live and work. Students who have participated in the initiative say it has helped them develop networking skills and make connections with employers throughout their communities.

The Success for Rural Students and Communities Act would support dynamic programs such as the Aroostook Aspirations Initiative and help students across the country who are seeking to achieve their college and career dreams. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.

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