First Lady Talks Biden Education Policy at Pennsylvania Community College
First Lady Talks Biden Education Policy at Pennsylvania Community College
Jill Biden continues to tout Biden Administration education record.
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden pressed ahead with her schedule this week visiting Lehigh Carbon Community College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday afternoon for a Congressional Hispanic Caucus on the Road event while democrats continue to wrangle over the fallout of President Joe Biden’s debate performance.
The first lady discussed “education and the pathways to good-paying jobs—because that’s how we grow the middle class," she said.
She noted the Biden administration’s early education efforts, including keeping childcare providers open during the pandemic and pushing to raise pay for early childhood educators. Dr. Biden then talked about the White House’s “Classroom to Career” program, which allows students to take career-related community college courses while they’re still in high school.
“For Joe, the answer to ‘What’s next?’ is continuing to make sure education starts early and leads to a good career,” she said.
Dr. Biden has traveled the country to highlight key Biden-Harris Administration investments and proposals focused on transforming the high school experience and creating seamless pathways from high school to good-paying jobs, including a new Career-Connected High School grant that provided 19 awards totaling $25 million, according to the White House.
The program, funded for the first time through President Biden’s FY 2023 budget, aims to build the capacity of state and local education systems to work with employers and develop high-quality career-connected high school programs for more students. The program, according to the White House, leverages four evidence-based strategies: providing postsecondary education and career guidance; increasing access to dual or concurrent enrollment programs; increasing work-based learning opportunities; and providing opportunities for students to earn industry-recognized credentials.
During her remarks, the first lady asked how many attendees were community college employees and whether they were working during the summer. “I’m working too, in a different sense,” she said.
Lawmakers—Reps. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), Nydia Velasquez (D-N.Y.), and Susan Wild (D-Pa)—delivered brief remarks at the start of the event. Wild spoke first and talked about the importance of high-quality education in all stages of life. Velasquez spoke second, addressing the specific utility workforce education programs provide the Latino community.
Dr. Biden thanked the lawmakers and local elected officials for inviting her to speak in Allentown, where Latinos account for more than 50 percent of the population. The first lady highlighted the Biden administration’s recent executive order “to keep families together and give “Dreamers” the opportunities to get jobs in the United States,” a line that received enthusiastic applause.
The speeches were followed by a roundtable, facilitated by Rep. Wild. Dr. Ann Bieber, the president of Lehigh Carbon Community College, talked about how high school students are currently benefiting from enrolling in courses at her school. Victoria Montero, who leads the community workforce development program at St. Luke's Health Network, described St. Luke's career program and how Latino students have benefited from it.
Dr. Biden did not take any questions from reporters following the event. She did a brief interview with Victor Martinez with La Mega Radio, a local Spanish-language outlet.