Parents & Students: Pell Grant Cuts A' Comin

[MTI]

The Bush administration is expected to soon revise the eligibility formula that qualifies college students for Pell Grants, possibly rendering 84,000 students ineligible for the grant next year, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. The Federal Pell Grant Program is the largest federal aid program for college students and provides need-based grants from $400-$4,050 based on a formula that calculates a student's need.

In the administration's proposed plan, the amount of state and local taxes paid would not play as large a role in the formula used to determine need, thus increasing a student's or family's calculated household income and decreasing a student's calculated need. If a student's calculated need is not great enough, he or she will be ineligible for the grant. In addition, the amount a student receives is also based on calculated need, so some students may receive less next year if their need decreases. However, Bush's plan would keep the maximum Pell Grant at $4,050 for the third year in a row.

The changes will save the Education Department $270 million and will help remedy the $3.7 billion budget shortfall the Pell Grant Program is currently experiencing. Bush also requested $458 million more than was allocated last year for the program.

[Botnst]

Excellent. Killing another federal give-away is fine with me. Anybody who wants to support a student is free to do so. Be my guest. I spent time in the military and then worked my a$$ off to go to university. If you want it, work for it.

[koop]

Originally Posted by Botnst

Excellent. Killing another federal give-away is fine with me. Anybody who wants to support a student is free to do so. Be my guest. I spent time in the military and then worked my a$$ off to go to university. If you want it, work for it.

You didn't take any of that GI bill money did you?

[Botnst]

It was part of the agreement under which I entered military service. Like retirement bennies, SSI, subsidized insurance and funeral expenses.

[koop]

Damn taxpayer supported entitlement programs. Four years on the job and a lifetime on the dole.

[Botnst]

Originally Posted by koop

Damn taxpayer supported entitlement programs. Four years on the job and a lifetime on the dole.

Nuthin' to it! Yeah, those sneaky-petes in Iraq are getting the deal of a lifetime.

You sign-up and take your chances. Could be lucky like me and merely spend 4 years in a ship's boiler room or maybe like another veteran on this board and get shrapnel and permanent disability. It's a great gamble for people who have what it takes. I highly recommend it.

[el presidente]

Originally Posted by MTI

The Bush administration is expected to soon revise the eligibility formula that qualifies college students for Pell Grants, possibly rendering 84,000 students ineligible for the grant next year, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. The Federal Pell Grant Program is the largest federal aid program for college students and provides need-based grants from $400-$4,050 based on a formula that calculates a student's need.

In the administration's proposed plan, the amount of state and local taxes paid would not play as large a role in the formula used to determine need, thus increasing a student's or family's calculated household income and decreasing a student's calculated need. If a student's calculated need is not great enough, he or she will be ineligible for the grant. In addition, the amount a student receives is also based on calculated need, so some students may receive less next year if their need decreases. However, Bush's plan would keep the maximum Pell Grant at $4,050 for the third year in a row.

The changes will save the Education Department $270 million and will help remedy the $3.7 billion budget shortfall the Pell Grant Program is currently experiencing. Bush also requested $458 million more than was allocated last year for the program.

So, according to these figures, the Bush administration is actually calling for a net increase in funding: $270 million less, based on the revised formula, but a budgeted increase of $458 million.

That looks like a net gain to me.

"Bush is Bad".....come on, chant it with me.....

"Bush is Bad"
"Bush is Bad"
"Bush is Bad"
"Bush is Bad"
"Bush is Bad"