The Online College Grants You Need Now Is Easier to Acquire.
When Barrack Obama campaigned for President, one of his platforms was to make a college education affordable for everyone. Last March, he signed the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, which includes many of the ways he wants to make education more accessible. There are actually six points, which he hopes to have turned into law and/or policy by 2012. Many are unaware of the many benefits provided by these six items.
Create An Education Credit – This will make college affordable for all Americans by creating a new American Opportunity Tax Credit. This fully refundable credit will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans, and will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university. Recipients of this credit will be required to conduct 100 hours of public service a year, either during the school year or over the summer months.
Simplify The Financial Aid Process – Filing for financial aid is getting as complicated as filing one’s taxes. Obama states the basic FASFA form needed to even get a basic Pell Grant is longer and more complicated than a standard annual tax form. Research has shown that the low take-up rate of the Pell Grant, HOPE and Lifetime Learning tax credit programs is likely due to the complexity of the application process. Among Obama’s proposals is a simple box on everyone’s tax form. Check that box off when filing one’s taxes and it allows the IRS to send relevant financial information to the Board of Education for the Pell and other grants. They even are talking about eliminating the FASFA.
High School Preparation Tests – One of Obama’s most critical objectives is to overhaul high school preparation. He believes many high school students aren’t “College Ready”. He’s proposed creating a voluntary test. With the results, a student will know what they need to be ready for college and still have the time to prepare for it. This may not help online schools, but it will get more people ready for them.
Increase The Pell Grant – Obama’s Reconciliation Act is a start, thanks in part to the last point. It includes plans to increase the Pell from a ceiling of $5,350 to hopefully slightly under $6,000 next year. He has also promised to set up a system where the Pell will be increased annually based on the current cost of college.
The Community College Partnership Program – This is also part of the new Reconciliation Act. Obama feels community colleges have approximately 50% of all students. The Act calls for the start of what he’s calling a Community College Partnership Program. Its goal is to strengthen community colleges by providing grants. The school must be Title IV accredited, and according to sources inside the Board of Education, this also includes online schools.
Eliminate Federal Family Loan Program – The President stopped the Federal Family Loan Program. Banks are seriously not happy about this, mainly because they can’t put students in debt for life like they used to. The Federal Family Loan System involved federal money administered by banks. All loans will now be through the already existing Direct Loan system, which is administered by the Board of Ed. Obama projects this creates an incredible savings and generate revenue, with the profits going to the Pell.
Education is life changing. Those who go to college and get a degree have already increased their income potential before they are even hired. The college grants and scholarships needed for many to attend college is addressed in the above plan. Changing how college loans are issued and upping Pell grant and &LINK3% may just mean untold numbers of people will have a better change right from the start.