Oregon community college representatives share experiences as Biden proposes to expand college access nationwide

People sitting around table in high school library

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona listened to stories from Oregon community college students and presidents on Tuesday. He was promoting President Joe Biden's American Families Plan, which proposes free community college for all Americans. April Rubin / Staff

The nation’s top education official praised Oregon community colleges Tuesday for using what is known as a “trauma-informed” perspective to guide their pandemic and post-pandemic policies. He said the Biden administration wants the rest of the country to follow the same model.

Oregon community college students and presidents shared their experiences with U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona Tuesday afternoon at Southridge High in Beaverton. The goal of their roundtable discussion was to give Cardona information and ammunition that he could use to shape and promote President Joe Biden’s so-called American Families Plan, which would offer free community college to all Americans.

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