Save Pell

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[savepell]

Don’t Balance the Budget on the Backs of Students Most in Need

http://edtru.st/1PWBPZC

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It’s 2016 — an election year. It is the last year that President Obama will submit a budget to Congress, while issues of student loan debt and college costs are being discussed broadly on the campaign trail and at kitchen tables across the country.

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White House plan to restore year-round Pell Grants and create a new bonus

The Obama administration wants to bring back year-round Pell Grants and create a $300 bonus for Pell recipients who take at least 15 credits per semester.

Yesterday U.S. Department of Education announced a desire to bring back summer ‪#‎PellGrants‬ & create a new bonus for students who take at least 15 credits per semester.

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We All Deserve to Know Grad Rates for Pell Students

Like many students, my college decision was based largely on the price I would have to pay — tuition, financial aid, and in-state vs. out-of-state costs all had an influence. However, there was one other factor I should have paid close attention to — one that would have solidified for me and my mother whether my investment was a sound decision — and that is graduation rates for Pell Grant recipients.

Sure, graduation rates for all students are important, but let’s face it: Far too many colleges and universities have a tough time graduating Pell Grant recipients like myself, so it’s important to know how these students fare. If a college or university graduates the same percentage of Pell Grant recipients as it does other students, prospective students and their families can be assured that the supports necessary for success are likely available to students who need them.

Pell Grant graduation rates weren’t available when I was considering college, but they are now. We recently released The Pell Partnership, which includes one of the most comprehensive examinations of graduation rates for Pell Grant recipients and how they compare with the rates of non-Pell students on both an institutional and national level. The accompanying online data tool makes graduation rate data for Pell Grant students easy to find and access all in one place.

At my alma mater, Temple University for example, the tool shows that 66 percent of Pell students graduate — roughly the same percentage of non-Pell students — which suggests this institution takes seriously their commitment to helping Pell recipients complete their degrees. When I was a student, Temple offered a variety of work-study opportunities, many of which allowed students to work beyond the maximum amount allotted so they didn’t have to leave campus to find work. The university recognized that many students needed to work — whether to help pay tuition, buy books, or to have a little spending money for extracurricular activities. It was no surprise, then, for me to see Temple highlighted in The Pell Partnership as one of 36 universities serving Pell students well.

I was fortunate that things worked out the way they did and that I chose a college that would serve me well. But these decisions shouldn’t be left to luck or guessing games. Students should have all of the information they need to make an educated decision about college, and for nearly 40 percent of our nation’s college-going population, graduation rates of Pell Grant recipients are a relevant and important factor in choosing a university. I didn’t have all the facts, but hopefully today’s students can.

https://edtrust.org/the-equity-line/we-all-deserve-to-know-grad-rates-for-pell-students/

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Let’s build on the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 & make college more affordable by protecting one of our most valuable investments in #HigherEd & in the economic security of young Americans.”

[staff]

Tumblr Tuesday: Tumblr Goes to Washington 

The White House We’re going to the White House today to talk to President Obama about the cost of education, and we’re bringing a bunch of you with us. Among you: 

Adulting Kelly Brown’s tips on being a real life adult: Step 1: Get a key ring. Step 2: Visit the President of the United States of America. 

I, Too, Am Harvard A photo campaign based on a play based on interviews with black students at Harvard College that were based on a very real and very empowering way of fighting back against racism on campus.

Adventures in Learning A teacher who is publicly asking the fundamental question, “Why we educate.” Sometimes the answer is, “To conduct improv theater about mean princesses.”  

David Karp Here’s a guy whose mom is very excited for the President on this occasion.

White House photo by wbeem

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Rep. Paul Ryan's fiscal year 2015 budget proposal, released today, offers up severe cuts ($791 billion over 10 years) to education and other non-defense p

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House passes Ryan budget, which would slash funding for Pell Grants. Bad news for college students. http://bit.ly/Ym1rIM

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“I literally owe my entire education and my current career path to the Pell grant,” said Kerrie Trube -- a student at the Community College of Philadelphia and winner of the Speak Up for Pell Video Contest. Check out her video (as well as runner-up Andrea Marant).

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Anyone who has ever tried to untangle a cassette tape knows some things have gotten a lot better since the 1980s. But not everything has improved, especially if you’re a college student or the family of a student.

New data show the percentage of American households with student loan debt has more than DOUBLED since 1989.

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President Obama appeared on ‘Late Night with Jimmy Fallon’ last night to stand up for students struggling to afford college. In addition to giving a big shout-out to the importance of Pell Grants, Obama made the case against increases to student loan interest rates by “slow-jamming the news.”

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On a recent radio appearance, Rep. Virginia Foxx, chair of the House Higher Education Subcommittee, said that she has “very little tolerance” for students who need to take out loans to pay for college. But the data show that covering college costs is harder than it's ever been: college costs have grown 538 percent over the past 30 years.

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Should America invest in hard-working students or tax cuts for millionaires? Our friends over at the National Women’s Law Center show us exactly how the trade-off plays out.

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How bad is Rep. Paul Ryan's budget proposal? Really bad. The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities found that a full 62 percent of the huge proposed cuts come at the expense of low-income Americans. Tell your member of Congress to fight these cuts: http://edtru.st/GReTcR