NEWS: Senators Blunt Rochester, McCormick Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Make Education More Accessible for Students and Families

Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), both members of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, introduced the Promoting Advancement Through Transit Help (PATH) to Education Act. This bill would authorize the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to facilitate partnerships between transit providers, higher education institutions, and Head Start centers so American students are afforded greater opportunities to succeed. The companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives is sponsored by Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.-2) and Congressman Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.-2).

"For many Americans, a high-quality education is the key to a world of opportunity," said Senator Blunt Rochester, ranking member of the Education & the American Family Subcommittee. "Our bipartisan PATH to Education Act empowers the Department of Transportation to increase accessible transit options that connect communities with educational opportunities across our nation, from pre-school to graduate school. Together, we will level the playing field and close this geographic opportunity gap."

"For working families and students at every stage of life, transportation is the first step to accessing education, said Senator McCormick." The PATH to Education Actimproves coordination between transit providers, preschools, CTE centers, and colleges, helping families balance work and learning while ensuring students across Pennsylvania can reliably reach the education and training resources that will support our future workforce."

"No one in America should ever have to give up on a dream because they can't find an affordable ride. But today in New Hampshire and across our country, too many students are facing obstacles and falling behind simply because they do not have a reliable, affordable way to get to school," said Congresswoman Goodlander. "Our bipartisan PATH to Education Act will right this wrong and break down barriers by connecting students of all ages - from Head Start to our community college - with affordable and reliable transportation from home to school. This is about ensuring every student in America has a fair shot at success, no matter their zip code or how they get to class."

"There are too many students who want to go to class, want to do better, and want a shot at a good life, but they are held back by something as basic as getting there,"said Congressman Van Drew. "That should not happen in America. This bill is a commonsense step toward fixing that problem. If we are serious about education and opportunity, then we need to make sure students can actually reach the classroom."

As Americans' enrollment in higher education continues to rise, physical access to post-secondary education is often neglected. Reliable transportation is critical to ensuring Americans have access to continued education in all communities. It has been reported that only 57 percent of community college primary campuses have transit stops within walking distance, and 1 in 8 students reported missing class due to transportation issues. Further, pathways to success in education start at an early age - just 3 in 7 of Head Start centers have a public transit stop within walking distance. Stakeholders must collaborate to ensure students have reliable transportation options as they seek to further their academic success.

The PATH to Education Act authorizes Department of Transportation (DOT) assistance for certain educational institutions to:

• Expand public transportation infrastructure (physical stops) to extend existing transit routes to reach Head Start centers and eligible colleges;
• Better align transit schedules to meet program and class times; and
• Ensure public transportation costs are not a barrier to getting to class.

Under the bill, federal Head Start programs, as well as community colleges, area career and technical schools, Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), and colleges with high numbers of Pell Grant-eligible students would be eligible, to target the bill towards populations least likely to have car access.

"At Delaware State University, access and opportunity are at the core of everything we do," said Dr. Tony Allen, President of Delaware State University. "The PATH to Education Act is a powerful step toward removing one of the most persistent barriers our students face-reliable transportation. By connecting historically Black colleges and universities, minority-serving institutions, and Head Start centers with greater transit access, this legislation ensures that more students and families can fully participate in the promise of education. We applaud Senator Blunt Rochester for her visionary leadership in driving increased access and mobility for all learners."

"Many Delaware Tech students face significant transportation challenges that make it difficult to travel to our campuses, especially in Kent and Sussex counties, where there are fewer public transportation options," said Dr. Mark T. Brainard, President of Delaware Technical Community College. "By expanding transit options statewide, the PATH to Education Act would provide easier access to a college degree, which is not only a life-changing opportunity for our students, but also benefits our state's workforce and its economy."

"At DART First State, our mission is clear: 'Connecting you to what matters - Every Ride, Every Customer, Every Day,'" said John Sisson, CEO of the Delaware Transit Corporation. "We believe that safe, reliable access to education is a powerful pathway to opportunity and long-term success. For that reason, we fully support this bill, which will expand access to higher education and provide Delawareans with the opportunities and upward mobility that advanced learning can afford. Ensuring that students can reach and complete their educational goals strengthens our workforce, our communities, and our state's future."

"Access to public transport is imperative for the creation of good jobs and sustaining solid working communities across the USA," said TWU International President John Samuelsen. "The PATH to Education Act will enable young workers to safely commute to trade school or college on American made buses operated and maintained by workers with strong labor rights."

"Millions of college students rely on public transportation to get to and from class, yet bus and transit routes aren't always accessible or affordable" said Catherine Brown, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy at the National College Attainment Network (NCAN). "NCAN is proud to support this legislation that takes important steps toward making sure every college student has access to transportation so they can thrive at school."

"There's one obstacle mostly every college student has encountered that at some point stood between their ability to start and finish their postsecondary program - transportation," said Tanya Ang, Executive Director of Today's Students Coalition. "This is especially true for students in rural areas where many community and technical colleges do not have public transportation within reasonable walking distance. We are thrilled to see the continued bipartisan, bicameral commitment to help address this issue through the PATH to Education Act. Improving public transportation for students, a long standing priority for Today's Students Coalition, moves the needle on access to higher education and necessary postsecondary training that leads to a sustainable career and economic mobility."

"Enactment of the PATH to Education Act would help make Head Start much more accessible," said Yasmina Vinci, Executive Director of the National Head Start Association (NHSA). "According to a 2023 study by NHSA and the Civic Mapping Initiative, only 42% of Head Start programs have a transit stop accessible to families within walking distance for a toddler (0.2 miles). The PATH to Education Act would allow programs to work with local transit agencies to significantly improve accessibility."

"Student Veterans of America (SVA) supports the Promoting Advancement Through Transit Help (PATH) to Education Act. This legislation would expand access to education by authorizing the Department of Transportation to award competitive grants that strengthen public transit options near community college campuses and other institutions. Reliable transportation shapes whether a student veteran can enroll, attend class, and complete a degree," said Tammy Barlet, Vice President of Government Affairs for SVA. "Many veterans live far from campus to care for family, hold jobs with irregular hours, or manage service-connected health appointments. A forty-minute commute that becomes ninety minutes on a late bus can cause missed labs or exams. The PATH to Education Act would help communities design the transit solutions that match their community's needs. Grants like these would reduce the stress of commuting and give students the stability they need to focus on learning and move into the workforce. We thank Representative Goodlander, Representative Van Drew, Senator Blunt Rochester and Senator McCormick for their leadership on this bipartisan, bicameral legislation. SVA looks forward to working with Congress to help ensure every veteran can pursue education free from avoidable barriers."

The PATH to Education Act is endorsed by the Association of Community College Trustees, the Today's Students Coalition (formerly Higher Learning Advocates), the National College Attainment Network, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the Student Veterans of America, the Transport Workers Union of America, DART First State, Delaware State University, Delaware Technical Community College, the Delaware Head Start Association, River Valley Community College, and White Mountains Community College.

A one pager on the bill is available here. Full text is available here.

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Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the United States Senate where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.