Pell grant? 81,000 fewer will get them thanks to Bush. Hilary was right

[caligirl]

From the Chronicle of High Education

Washington

The U.S. Education Department's new way of determining a student's need for financial aid will disqualify 81,000 students from receiving Pell Grants, the Government Accountability Office said in a report last week, a conclusion that confirmed earlier predictions by many higher-education lobbyists.

Since January, the department has been using updated tax information in its formula for assessing a student's eligibility for federal financial aid. The change makes families appear richer -- and thus able to contribute more to the cost of their children's higher education -- because it reduces the amount of money the department forgives for state and local tax payments.

The change in the tax allowance was the first in more than a decade. It was announced a few days before Christmas and took effect this year, despite opposition from Democratic lawmakers, college lobbyists, and advocates for students (The Chronicle, January 7).

The report from the GAO, the investigative arm of Congress, concludes that the change will increase the expected family contribution for college costs by $440, on average, and is likely to result in a decrease in the Pell Grant award for about 35 percent of students. The average cutback will be about $130, the report says, and families will have to pony up an additional $3.2-billion over all.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

[MnFats]

1. yeah, and my daughter's among those thrown out of the program.

Great. We go further into debt so rich folks who can buy their kids' way into any college are assured of a tax cut...

[StuckinBFE]

2. link?

I am so glad I graduated last year and got great interest rates before they got raised.

[caligirl]

3. Sorry, i don't have one, this was posted at College confidential.

We don't qualify for need based aid at all unless we have a boat load of kids in school at one time.

[HockeyMom]

4. Unfortunately,

lot of Blue states with high state and local taxes (and higher costs of living too). Yep, Hillary (in NY) was right.

[ogsball]

5. China and India are trying turning out more graduates

Than the United States now and we cut pell grants. Very smart.

When I was growing up, my parents used to say to me: "Finish your dinner — people in China are starving." I, by contrast, find myself wanting to say to my daughters: "Finish your homework — people in China and India are starving for your job." -- Thomas L. Friedman

[babylonsister]

6. ogsball, welcome, and so true! thanks for the quote! eom

[tyedyeto]

7. My son .....

did get his Pell Grant but it was MUCH smaller than he was led to believe it would be. This administration is so fucked up, they want you to believe our children are our future but they won't support them.

[dave502d]

8. When our we going to take this country back from these pricks! n/t

[Moderator]

9. caligirl

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
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Thank you.


DU Moderator