It's great to be here today at Somersworth High School. Since before the Civil War, the doors of schools in this town have been open to anyone who wants to go through them.

That's what makes our public education system the best in the world - it's the idea that every single child in this country should get the opportunity to succeed.

The public schools of Little Rock, Arkansas gave me that chance. My teachers there inspired me to go to West Point and then to the Army, and every day I'm grateful for that. So we should all take time, every day, to recognize our teachers. And I want to start today.

I know many of you, especially the seniors, have college on your mind. I know I did when I was your age. Getting into college these days is no easy feat. And paying for it is even harder.

But I was lucky. I knew I didn't have the money for college. But the military paid for my education -- and I paid them back by serving. It was the best deal going: I got to serve my country, got a great education, and didn't leave school with a pile of debt.

Every young person in American deserves that same opportunity. And that's what I'm here to talk to you about: giving every American child the chance to go to college.

Unfortunately, we're nowhere near that goal today.

Since President Bush took office, the cost of a public college education has jumped by 28 percent. That's a $1,032 increase -- the highest tuition increase on record.

Now for George Bush, this wasn't a problem. His folks weren't exactly scraping to get by. But today, because of him, too many of us are.

Back in the 2000 campaign, he said he was going to create jobs. He's lost them.

He said he was going to protect our environment. He's polluted it.

He said he was going to leave no child behind. Our schools are cash-starved, overcrowded, and failing.

He said he was going to have a humble foreign policy. He's alienated nearly every one of our allies.

He said he was going to bring fiscal responsibility to Washington. He's turned record surpluses into record deficits.

For three long years, President Bush has taken our country in one direction: the wrong direction.

And I'm running for president because I want to turn America around.

We need a president who can bring a lifetime of leadership experience to put America back on top again. Someone who's been in the trenches and on the frontlines. Someone who doesn't just talk the talk, but walks the walk.

And that's just what we did in the United State Military, where I served for thirty four years. Many people don't realize that Generals don't just wage wars. Most of the battles we fight are to make sure that our troops have the tools they need to succeed in their jobs and raise their children.

That's what I did every day as an officer in the U.S. Army. I fought to make sure that our soldiers had top notch health care. That their children had first-class schools and access to Headstart. That they had affordable housing and time with their families.

Of course, there were challenges. But no matter what we faced, one thing was always true: with the right plan, hard-working troops and good leadership, you can turn any situation around.

That's what I've been talking about this week: my Turnaround Plan for America - a plan to tackle our toughest domestic challenges and get our country moving forward again.

Today, I want to you about one part of that plan -- my goal for higher education in America.

A college education is the foundation of the American dream. And it pays off. Not just in knowledge, but in dollars. Studies show that for each additional year of higher you get, you earn 5 to 15 percent more. That's more than the average returns on stocks and bonds.

So today, we should be making it easier-not harder-for our kids to get the education they need to succeed in the 21st century economy.

Unfortunately, too many young people don't even consider going to college because it's just too expensive.

Under President Bush, the cost for four-years of public higher education has risen by 28 percent. Just this July, the University of New Hampshire tuition increased by nearly 7 percent. And the typical student graduates from there with $20,000 in debt.

What's going on here?

I'll tell you.

It starts with President Bush's irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans - those earning more than $200,000 a year. They've plunged many states into record-breaking debt, forcing them to balance their budgets on the backs of students.

It gets worse. Pell Grants and other types of student aid have not kept pace with the rising cost of tuition - and they're increasingly difficult to get. Students who want financial assistance have to fill out a 108 line form - and that's just the beginning of a long, bureaucratic process.

This is unacceptable. Our students should be studying for classes -- not studying how to pay for them. We have the best higher education system in the world, but that doesn't matter if so few Americans can afford to enroll.

Today, I want to announce my plan to turn that around. My Universal College Plan will enable every single American to attend college without going bankrupt.

I pledge to you that by the end of my first term in office, one million additional students will gain access to higher education.

My plan has four parts.

First, we will provide $6,000 a year for the first two years of college to any student whose family earns $100,000 or less. That's double the federal grant students currently get -- and it covers more than 100 percent of the tuition and fees for the average four-year public university.

Second, we've got to make it easier for student to apply for financial aid. I'll streamline the application process, so students only have to fill out one form for Pell Grants and Hope Scholarships.

This will make it much easier for more students to get the aid they need.

Third, we have to help cash-starved states with tuition costs. Right now, President Bush's tax cuts have put states in the red, forcing them to raise tuition prices just to stay afloat. That's why state tuition increases are twice as high as private ones.

My plan sends state and local governments $40 billion to help fix their fiscal crises, and get tuition costs under control.

Finally, my plan helps working families save for college by giving tax credits to working families, those who have the hardest time putting money away.

Enrolling one million more Americans in college is an ambitious goal. But I believe leaders need to set ambitious goals and work hard to achieve them.

That's what I will do as President. Working together, we will ensure that more of our children go to college. We will turn America around, one student at a time. Thank you.

» Read Clark's Higher Education Plan
» Read Clark's Turnaround Pledge (PDF)
» State by State Breakdown of Goals