This article talks about the plan of Bush's administration to end the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program and focus on the broader goal with increased access to college for underrepresented groups and not spend their time protecting inefficient programs. During the annual meeting of the American Council on Education, the new under…

This publication describes how an institution of higher education calculates and pays federal Pell awards to eligible students and how it reports those payments to the Department of Education. The discussion covers what the school must do to process an eligible student's Pell award after the school has received documentation of the student's…

In response to Fischer (HE 527 626), the author considers a proposal to simplify need analysis in Pell grants and other federal need-based student aid as having merit but threatening serious financial harm to many current Pell grant recipients and their institutions. It is argued that focus on budgetary advantages ignores potential dislocations…

In response to Fischer (HE 527 626), the author considers a proposal to simplify and unify need analysis in Pell grants and other federal need-based student aid as appropriate. It is also argued that a single need analysis is needed because the complexity of the existing systems is a barrier to achieving the programs' central goal. (MSE)

The United States Department of Education's (the Department's) "Agency Financial Report" (AFR) for fiscal year (FY) 2012 provides an overview of the Department's financial performance and results and detailed information about the Department's stewardship over the financial resources entrusted to it. Additionally, as required by the…

Policy analysis issues in a recent study of quality control in the basic grant delivery system are reviewed, and the validity of the findings as reported is discussed. The study's design and implementation, derivation and presentation of findings, and relevance of the findings to the study's policy recommendations are examined. (MSE)

In response to Fischer (HE 527 626), the author considers his proposal to simplify need analysis in Pell grants and other federal need-based student aid as ignoring important considerations. It is suggested that a single formula will be difficult to derive until a coherent philosophy of needs analysis and specific current purpose for the grant…

The "Student Financial Aid Handbook" explains the policies and procedures required for institutions of higher education to administer federally funded student financial assistance programs properly. This volume describes how a school calculates and pays Pell awards to eligible students and how it reports those payments to the Department…

A discussion of the two systems of need analysis used for Pell grants and other large federal need-based student-aid programs looks at the reasons for different systems and examines the usefulness of simplification to one. Budgetary feasibility, distributional implications, alternative cost-saving reforms, and effects on public confidence are…

In response to Fischer (HE 527 626), the author considers a proposal to simplify need analysis in Pell grants and other federal need-based student aid as a good start toward getting policymakers to achieve more consistent assessments of student financial need, but more work by many parties to create a system producing more realistic need…

This report describes the Department of Education's process for estimating costs of the Pell grant program, which provides grants to financially needy students pursuing a postsecondary education. The Department uses a three-step process to develop its Pell grant budget estimate: a computer cost model incorporating over 30 economic indicators, a…

The surge in federal aid to students at proprietary schools, many of whom drop out, means that students seeking bachelor's degrees at non-profit public and private institutions are getting less aid. Proprietary schools claim they are doing a better job of educating disadvantaged students. (MSE)

In response to Fischer (HE 527 626), the author considers his proposal to simplify and unify the need analysis used in the Pell grant program and other federal need-based student aid to be useful and well designed, avoiding some common political considerations as it improves procedures and increases equity. The alternative cost-saving aspects of…

The three basic kinds of federal student financial aid to college students are described: federal student loans (direct lending, both subsidized and unsubsidized); campus-based aid (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, work-study programs, and Perkins Loans); and Pell Grants. Some details of program design and recent changes are noted.…

This report discusses the continuing concerns of the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) in regard to the Department of Education's management and oversight of postsecondary student financial aid programs, especially the Federal Family Education Loan, the Ford Direct Loan, and the Federal Pell Grant Programs. GAO commends the department for its…