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Published: 12/02/2021
More careers require post-secondary education than ever before, yet higher education is increasingly out of reach. Students and families—not public dollars—now fund the bulk of higher education costs.
Providing two years of tuition-free access to community college or a four-year institution would help make higher education affordable and accessible to all.
Canceling college debt would help fix the teacher shortage because educators would not have to choose between staying in careers they love, or opting for higher-paying careers to get out of debt.
Institutions must invest in full-time, tenure-track faculty members, support academic freedom, and improve working conditions for adjunct or “contingent” faculty.
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Pass the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2022
Submitted on 03/09/2022
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NEA Urges YES Vote on H.Con.Res. 70 Condemning Bomb Threats Against HBCUs
Submitted on 03/07/2022
Bills in Congress
Learn NEA's position on pending legislation related to public education, and take action to protect our schools
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Support
HR 7465 PSLF Payment Completion Fairness Act www.congress.gov
Introduced on 04/07/2022
A bill to simplify the process of receiving loan forgiveness, improve the applicant success rate, and encourage people to enter public service.
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Support
H Con Res 70 Condemning threats of violence against historically Black colleges and universities ("HBCUs") and reaffirming support for HBCUs and their students. www.congress.gov
Introduced on 03/07/2022
vote YES on H.Con.Res. 70
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Support
HR 6537 Pell Grant Sustainability Act www.congress.gov
Introduced on 02/01/2022
A bill to ensure federal resources for college students keep up with current costs by indexing Pell grants to inflation.
A History Advocating for Higher Education
1965
Higher Education Act Becomes Law
President Johnson signs the Higher Education Act (HEA) into law to “strengthen the educational resources of our colleges and universities and to provide financial assistance for students in postsecondary and higher education.”
1972
Pell Grants Begin
The Pell Grant program, the largest grant program that the U.S. Department of Education offers to undergraduate students, is created.
1992
Higher Education Act Reauthorization
Congress reauthorizes the Higher Education Act and Pres. George H.W. Bush signs it into law. The reauthorization significantly expands the student loan program.
1998
GEAR UP Begins
The Higher Education Act Amendments of 1998 authorize Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP). GEAR UP provides six-year grants to help increase the college-going rate of low-income students.
2007
PSLF Program Created
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) is created under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. PSLF is designed to encourage students to enter public service professions, such as education, through a promise to forgive student loans after 10 years’ worth of payments.
2008
Higher Education Opportunity Act Enacted
The Higher Education Opportunity Act is enacted, reauthorizing the amended version of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
2021
PSLF Program Overhauled to Meet Educators' Needs
The Biden-Harris administration on October 6 announces an overhaul of the PSLF program, including a broad expansion of the types of payments that count toward loan forgiveness. An estimated 550,000 public-service workers will see their progress toward PSLF grow because of the changes. The overhaul resulted after the administration received 168,000 emails from National Education Association members.
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Cancel Your Student Debt
By working to cancel student debt and improve forgiveness programs, we can make sure everybody who wants to learn and grow can do so—without exceptions.
