Dems Reintroduce Pell Grant Bill, Get Support of Education Leaders

"A day after a team of leaders from the Democrat Party reintroduced a bill called the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2021, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) also called for a similar push to effectively double Pell Grants for students in need," University Business reports.

"NAFSAA officials say Pell Grants, which will max out at $6,495 for the upcoming academic year, have not kept up with inflation or the rising costs of postsecondary tuition and fees. The organization joins a coalition of others across higher education and politicians who are pressing for change.

'This is more than just a college access and economic mobility issue, it’s a critical part of a social justice movement that seeks to create equal opportunity for all,' NASFAA President Justin Draeger said. 'We know that Pell is a critical component in supporting postsecondary access for students of color and first-generation college students. Doubling the Pell Grant would be a monumental step that would benefit students from historically underrepresented populations.'

U.S. Department of Education figures show that 58% of Black students and 47% of Hispanic students receive Pell Grant aid and nearly 90% of those awards go to families who earn $50,000 or less. But NAFSAA says Congress has only incrementally added to those awards over the past decade – in fact, from 2011-12 to 2019-20, the increases on maximum awards totaled just $645."

NASFAA's "Notable Headlines" section highlights media coverage of financial aid to help members stay up to date with the latest news. Articles included under the notable headlines section are not written by NASFAA, but rather by external sources. Inclusion in Today's News does not imply endorsement of the material or guarantee the accuracy of information presented.

 

Publication Date: 6/17/2021

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