As part of his quest to help the United States reclaim its status as the world's top producer of college graduates by 2020, on July 14 President Obama introduced the aptly named American Graduation Initiative (AGI). The sweeping proposal would, if approved by Congress, pump an unprecedented $12 billion into the nation's community colleges to help more students afford and earn associate degrees, build better classrooms and facilities, and train displaced workers for careers in emerging markets. In this article, some of the nation's leading authorities on education and the workforce weigh in on the proposal and its potential.