AFSA encourages graduating high school seniors who are children of AFSA members and plan to begin college in 2027 to apply for this valuable educational opportunity.
"The only difference between opportunity and obligation is perspective,” Garrett says. “If I see something as a chore, I’m not going to do very well, but if I see it as a challenge, I am.”
On Jan. 27, 2022, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona delivered a speech outlining his priorities and vision for American education. Throughout his remarks, Cardona spoke about using the current moment as an opportunity to improve the American education system and address inequities from pre-K to adult education. He argued for the need to “level up” the entire education system, and called upon everyone to work toward making education the “great equalizer” so that opportunity and achievement gaps can be closed.
The Department of Education makes clear that its overriding guidance to school districts is to use American Rescue Plan funds to make educational systems better for students, educators, staff, schools and their communities post-pandemic.