Contact: Brian Washington   (202) 822-7823

July 23, 2007

NEA Applauds Efforts To Ensure
No One Is Denied Access to Higher Education

U.S. Senate seeks to help more families afford postsecondary education

WASHINGTON—NEA President Reg Weaver believes several provisions under the Higher Education Act  recently approved by the Senate would help more families who are struggling financially pay for their children's postsecondary education.  The provisions were approved on July 19 and relate to a section of HEA that deals with financial assistance for students pursuing postsecondary degrees.  The Senate will consider HEA in its entirety in the near future. 

Weaver said HEA underscores this nation's commitment to ensure, as a matter of basic fairness, that no one is denied a college education because of his or her financial circumstances.  HEA has helped millions of students attend institutions of higher education by offering them financial assistance.  The new changes aim to help college students and their families by:

• Increasing the Pell Grant maximum from $4,050 to $5,100 next year and to $5,400 by 2011;
• Simplifying the process of applying for federal student loans;
• Increasing income protections for working students by raising the amount they can earn without reducing their financial aid awards; and
• Capping monthly loan payments at 15 percent of discretionary income.

The following statement can be attributed to Weaver:

"This is important legislation to professions like teaching.  I have talked to many college graduates who have studied to become teachers or want to teach, but can't.  They are drowning in student loan debt and can't earn enough income doing what they would love-teaching the next generation.  This not only reinforces the fact that educators need to be paid more, but also our young people, especially those who are at a financial disadvantage, need more help shouldering the growing cost of getting college and university degrees.  HEA has a proven track record of helping millions of students get the financial help they need to attend postsecondary institutions.  NEA looks forward to continuing its work with lawmakers to extend the future of this crucial piece of legislation." 

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee
organization, representing 3.2 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education
faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.