“Community colleges are invaluable to our modern system of education,” said Johnson.  “Whether a student is seeking specific job training or exploring a variety of career options, the local community college is a critical resource.  The numerous community colleges in the 15th District depend on Perkins funding and I have personally met with administrators from each institution.  I urge President Bush to restore the federal dollars to Perkins.”

Some of the functions of Perkins funds in colleges are; to develop curriculum, to replace or update specialized equipment to keep programs current with the workplace, to provide faculty development and keep current with changes in the field, and to provide supplemental services to students with special needs. Perkins also places emphasis on the success of students with special needs, who typically need additional support to succeed like displaced homemakers and single parents.  In order to maintain a strong economy and workforce, these are key populations who must be equipped with adequate knowledge and skills to obtain meaningful, productive employment.

Community colleges are extremely important to Rep. Johnson because so many institutions are in his District.  He shares area with: Champaign’s Parkland College, Danville Area Community College, Heartland College in Bloomington-Normal, Lake Land College in Mattoon, Kankakee Community College, Robinson’s Lincoln Trail College, Olney Central, Wabash Valley in Mt. Carmel, Frontier College in Fairfield and Saline County’s Southeastern College.