Urging the United States Department of Education and Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education, to reconsider the "Gainful Employment" rule that as proposed could derail the educational careers of millions of Americans and have a disproportionately negative effect on low-income and minority students who want to attend college.

WHEREAS, The United States Department of Education is considering a rule that will limit educational and economic opportunities for students or faculty/staff of private sector universities and career colleges; and

WHEREAS, Rather than apply its standards and criteria evenly across all colleges and universities, the Administration is targeting private-sector colleges who serve higher percentages of low-income and minority students; and

WHEREAS, If the Gainful Employment rule is implemented it could serve to make entire programs in career colleges and universities ineligible for Title IV financial aid if they don't meet certain arbitrary metrics; and

WHEREAS, If the Gainful Employment rule is enacted, it will adversely affect or altogether eliminate choices for low-income, minority, veteran and other underserved students who rely on federal student aid to help them earn their degrees; and

WHEREAS, At a time when our economy struggles to recover and the skills gap threatens the American workforce, the government should be increasing access to education, not restricting it; and

WHEREAS, In Philadelphia, continuing education and workforce development are paramount, and the multitude of options presented by our profile of private and non-profit higher education institutions alike is critical to serving our community. Private-sector schools are helping to close the skills gap we are suffering in Philadelphia and across the United States, offering hands-on training with real world experience to fill positions that are key for our community, and for similarly situated communities across the country; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby

urges the United States Department of Education and Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education, to reconsider the “Gainful Employment” rule that as proposed could derail the educational careers of millions of Americans and have a disproportionately negative effect on low-income and minority students who want to attend college.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution shall be forwarded to Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education.

End