Higher Education
College Affordability
COLLEGE EDUCATION AT RISK FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS: TELL CONGRESS TO REJECT PELL GRANT CUTS
The Pell Grant program helps make the college dreams of millions of students come true. But, this critical program is at great risk. Proposals in Congress threaten to cut funding for Pell Grants, leaving hundreds of thousands of students unable to afford higher education. A proposal in the House of Representatives would remove over 500,000 students from the Pell Grant program and lower the grant for those who remain. In addition, it would remove from the program students in school less than half time – a large number of students who work while also attending school.
College is the best investment in America’s future. It is fundamental to our economic growth. The strength of our nation depends on the strength of our people. The increase in the number of Pell Grant recipients over the last few years demonstrates that the federal investment in student aid pays off—workers know they can retool their skills to get better jobs with the help of federal student aid.
Take Action Today: Tell Congress to reject cuts to the Pell Grant program.
FOR-PROFIT CAREER EDUCATION: HELP PROTECT STUDENTS FROM DECEPTIVE PRACTICES
The Department of Education has released final regulations to enforce the federal requirement that career education programs receiving federal student aid “prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.” NEA supports these regulations. Numerous investigations have revealed pervasive abuses by some career education programs: deceptive and aggressive recruiting of students; inflated job placement rates and false reporting to authorities; overstatement of a program’s value and understatement of its high cost; and dismal completion rates. Too many of these programs are preying on low-income students, minority students, and veterans seeking to further their education, who take on insurmountable debt to pursue degrees or certificates that don’t help them get jobs.
The new “gainful employment” regulations will ramp up over four years, giving colleges time to reform while protecting students from exploitative programs. However, some in Congress – spurred on by pressure from for-profit schools – have already tried, and will likely continue to try to block implementation of the regulations.
Take Action Today: Tell Congress to protect students by supporting gainful employment regulations.
TELL CONGRESS TO SUPPORT THE DREAM ACT
Each year, thousands of undocumented students who have lived in the United States for at least five years graduate from U.S. high schools. Among these students, with whom NEA members work every day, are valedictorians, straight-A students, and idealistic youth committed to bettering their communities. Yet, because of their lack of legal status, they are unable to pursue higher education.
Senator Durbin (D-IL) and Representatives Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Berman (D-CA) have reintroduced the DREAM Act (S. 952/H.R. 1842). The bill would give eligible young people the opportunity to resolve their immigration status and work towards citizenship.
Take Action: Urge your Members of Congress to support the DREAM Act.
NEA co-sponsored ads in support of the DREAM Act
TAKE ACTION
