Americans should be free to choose the life and work that is best for them. Yet, to date, federal policy has taken a “four-year-degree-or-bust” approach that has substituted college degrees for actual job skills and knowledge. The lack of short-term learning programs and apprenticeships has aggravated this trend and hindered national prosperity.
DFI supports policies that increase access to short-term credentials and earn-to-learn programs, including industry recognized apprenticeships, to help workers discover passions, develop talents, and acquire needed skills to thrive in our dynamic, evolving economy. Employers also have a responsibility to rethink unnecessary four-year degree requirements and occupational credentials, which harm low-income families, needlessly increase education costs and debt, and remove otherwise qualified applicants from the candidate pool.