Thread by @M_Dannenberg1

10 Responses for Democratic leaders to the expected affirmative action decisions.

1: Commit to double TRIO college prep funding over the next 5 yrs. Pending budget sets up a glide path. 2020 platform called for it. Bipartisan support in Congress. @COETalk bit.ly/3P9vO5L

2: Direct DOJ to suspend antitrust prosecution for college collaboration on a specific set of activities (e.g. ending legacy, donor, & early decision preferences, increasing use of need-based financial aid, and engaging in targeted geographic recruitment) @npr_ed @NeeraTanden46

3: Help colleges implement race-neutral policies that increase diversity in the absence of affirmative action (e.g. a wealth-based, affirmative access admissions, percent plans, direct admission, etc..) Have @CollegeBoard provide support, $ @RickKahlenberg bit.ly/3P9vO5L

4: Announce competitive grant bonuses & regulatory relief for colleges that evidence a "meaningful commitment” to diversity & economic mobility. Worth millions to schools. Doesn’t require Congress @erichoov @ScottJaschik @hechingerreport @dcwriter360 @AmherstCollege @dcwriter360

5: Urge DOJ to investigate or join a lawsuit against the “568 colleges” for impermissibly collaborating on financial aid standards without practicing need-blind admissions. Leverage to get them to agree to other admissions changes. @FeganScottLaw bit.ly/3P9vO5L

6: Call on Congress to embrace “The McConnell Principle” whereby federal endowment tax relief is provided to high wealth, high access colleges – not just Berea College in SW Kentucky for which Sen. Mitch McConnell secured a line-item exemption @_BillMoses bit.ly/3mGQQg6

7: Direct Treasury Dept to revise the public charity tax status definition for high wealth colleges to ensure they evidence a _meaningful_ commitment to diversity and socioeconomic mobility. @Bob_Shireman @kevincarey1 @mattyglesias @DeanZerbe @dynarski bit.ly/43CIJBz

8: Embrace a fusion of: (i) @JeffMerkley-@RepBowman legacy preference ban, & (ii) @ChrisCoons ASPIRE bill holding rich colleges accountable for enrolling a minimum % Pell Grant (& middle class) students. Send bad actor penalty fees to ccs, HBCUs, & MSIs @dougbelkin @_NAFEO @UNCF

9: Require states & colleges that accept federal college aid to: (i) establish admissions, enrollment, completion & economic success goals for students overall & disaggregated subgroups, & (ii) report take up rates of disparate impact admissions policies by race & class @EdTrust

10: Urge philanthropic & corporate entities to: (i) link their financial partnerships to college evidence of a meaningful commitment to diversity & economic mobility, & (ii) privately fund dedicated support for affirmative access policies @kresgedu @MikeBloomberg @jamiemerisotis

Bottom line: It's going to take a series carrots and sticks to change practices and the financial incentives that undermine enrollment of historically under-represented students -- of all races. No single change is enough.