Rising college prices and student debt, the growth and collapse of online for-profit colleges, and expansions of federal grant, loan, and loan forgiveness policies have increased calls for more accountability in our higher education system. And there is significant consensus among lawmakers that the existing set of quality assurance policies for…

Education tax credits provide federal financial aid to a wide expanse of American taxpayers; however, little research or analysis has been done on these costly programs. There has been little evidence of its link to college enrollment growth. This descriptive paper outlines the establishment of education tax credits, their original intent, and the…

Congress completed the fiscal year 2012 appropriations process on December 17th, 2011, finalizing annual funding for federal education programs through September 30, 2012 at $68.1 billion, down $233 million from the prior year. It is the first year since 2007 that Congress did not increase total appropriations for education programs. This issue…

The House Subcommittee on Human Resources and Intergovernmental Relations met to hear testimony from leaders in government and higher education on managing the federal direct student loan program. Focus was on the Department of Education's plans to correct existing management problems of the Guaranteed Student Loan Program and implement the…

The author addresses the trends that characterize the interrelationship of Congress, the Administration, and the nation's education interest groups, and suggests that the system of policy-making for education is in transition, and its outcome will have much to do with the quality of Washington's response to the nation's educational needs.…

The two major programs to help dislocated workers make the transition to new employment are Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and Economic Dislocation and Worker Adjustment Assistance (EDWAA). Both programs have shortcomings that hamper their ability to help dislocated workers: they are slow in providing assistance, the services offered are often…

This paper offers information and analysis of the direct lending portion of the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965. The direct lending proposal is described in an opening letter to the reader as a provision that would make the Pell Grant Program an entitlement and raise the maximum award to $4,500 with provisions that would…

This paper analyzes the merits of proposals to encourage saving for college by permitting families to use funds accumulated in Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA's) to pay postsecondary education expenses. The paper argues that tax treatment of such expenditures might parallel that for expenditures of IRA's for retirement purposes--deferring tax…

Contents of this booklet include: (1) Chronology of the School Lunch Issue: Events Preceding the School Lunch Act of 1946, the 1946 School Lunch Act, "The Needy Go Unnoticed: 1946-1962,""Sorry, No Money: 1962-1965"; (2) "Their Daily Bread"--A Step Toward Action; (3) Congress Takes Action: The Vanik Program--A First…

Explains the need for quality educational technology in elementary and secondary schools, describes the potential that telecommunications network technology holds for revitalizing American education, and outlines major federal programs that provide policy guidance and funding assistance relating to the National Information Infrastructure. A list…

This evaluation study developed 29 recommendations concerning the implementation of direct loans in providing financial assistance to postsecondary school students. The investigation included examination of a current Department of Education (ED) pilot program, a video teleconference to discuss direct lending with 23 individuals in education…

Despite the persistent possibility that foreign languages and international studies may become lost in the current federal policy of fiscal restraint, the immediate public policy context for these areas is guardedly optimistic. Recent years have produced increased media attention, growing public support, and professional unity and organization.…

The popularity of no need scholarships in the United States, the ebb and flow of federal financial aid programs, and the changing academic character of the student body served and influenced by these efforts are described. The use of scholarships as recruiting tools is discussed. (MLW)

The volume focuses on the long-term outlook for the Federal budget in terms of the overall balance between outlays and receipts and the possible program options that might be considered in policy planning over the long term. Chapter 2 provides an overview of the budget outlook for the last half of the 1970's. Chapters 3-10 discuss possible program…

The Title IV student assistance programs of the Higher Education Act are the principal vehicle by which the federal government has intervened in the process called post-secondary education. The 1972 amendments also placed major emphasis on student assistance--emphasis further reinforced by recent budgetary trends. Title IV contains six student…