This description of federal compensatory education programs for the economically disadvantaged was prepared for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's review of national education policies. As background, the report first describes the U.S. educational system, the social and educational changes since 1954 that gave rise to…

How well new state, institutional, and private loan programs help compensate for federal student aid cutbacks depends on how well they respond to a number of practical requirements, including availability, affordability, adequacy of loan servicing and collection procedures, avoidance of excessive repayment burden, and clarity for borrowers and…

This evaluative report by the General Accounting Office (GAO) summarizes Department of Education actions made through April 1996 in response to 205 recommendations to improve the management of federal student financial aid programs. The report concludes that the Department had completed actions or had actions in progress or planned for 186 of the…

Two possible types of loans for undergraduate study are outlined (loans to cover fees only and loans for living costs), and suggested repayment schemes and need analyses are given. Some notes are given on the administration of such a program. (MSE)

Packaging student financial aid, bringing the various forms of assistance together into a combination of resources sufficient for an individual student to meet college costs, reflects national and institutional philosophy about who should have access to higher education and who should pay, and how the pool of applicants is to be treated equitably.…

Selected issues to be considered by the 96th Congress regarding the Higher Education Act reauthorization are examined. Recently funded at approximately $5 billion, the programs of this legislation serve over 3 million students through financial assistance and nearly the full range of traditional higher education institutions and many proprietary…