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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) joined Reps. Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Josh Harder (CA-10), Billy Long (MO-07), Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Vicky Hartzler (MO-04), Michael San Nicolas (GU-At Large), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), and Cindy Axne (IA-03) this week in reintroducing the Success for Rural Students and Communities Act.

This bipartisan bill aims to help close the gap in postsecondary education for rural students by creating a demonstration program that encourages innovative strategies with rural community stakeholders to help students succeed in attaining credentials to step into a high-demand job of their choosing.

“The Success for Rural Students and Communities Act works to ensure rural students enroll and complete postsecondary education,” said Guthrie. “Through empowering community stakeholders, we can remove barriers and provide more opportunities for students in rural areas to obtain postsecondary degrees, including two-year and four-year college degrees. Investing in students will not only help with their success, but also the success and economic development of the communities where they live and work. In education and in other policy areas, I’m proud to advance bills to ensure rural communities are being represented in Congress.”

The Success for Rural Students and Communities Act would provide funding for demonstration grants to help stakeholder partners implement innovative strategies to:

• Increase enrollment and completion rates of postsecondary education for rural and adult students by providing early support services such as counseling, access to dual enrollment courses, and increasing community outreach programs.
• Develop or enhance postsecondary programs and opportunities for training in job fields relevant to local communities by expanding work-based learning opportunities, awarding competency-based credit, and engaging local employers in creating curricula.
• Locally connect employers with students after completing a postsecondary degree.

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