New Database Offers Glimpse Into State-Funded Aid Programs Across U.S.
By Brittany Hackett, Communications Staff
As part of a broader effort to help states redesign their education programs for today’s students, the Education Commission of the States (ECS) has created a 50-state policy database that looks at the 100 largest state-funded financial aid programs in the U.S.
The database is part of ECS’s Redesigning State Financial Aid Project – a two-year project that was kicked off last April with the release of a paper on principles states should follow when redesigning their aid programs.
The goal of the project, ECS Policy Analyst Sarah Pingel said, is to help states begin the conversation of where their programs are now and to help them find programs in other states for the basis of innovation.
“States collectively in 2013 provided over $11 billion in assistance through financial aid programs in the U.S.,” Pingel said, adding that ECS “believes those investments are important and those dollars can really help states to meet their goals” related to higher education.
Using data to determine the scope, size, and qualifications, ECS determined the 100 largest state-funded programs around around the country, selecting two programs from each state. State legislation and regulations were used to populate additional data on each program, including who is responsible for its administration, whether it is need- or merit-based, renewal criteria, and whether the funds are intended for full- or part-time students.
For financial aid administrators, the database is an opportunity to look at the “diverse role” they play in administering state-funded aid across the country, Pingel said. “They come together in a lot of different ways” and it’s “interesting to consider how someone in their seat in a different state does this job,” she added.
In addition, the database can help financial aid administrators who actively advocate their state policymaker for more and better financial aid policies. The hope, Pingel said, is to provide them with data and research on existing programs, as well as a way to give them other state-program models to look at for innovation in their own state.
See how your state-funded aid programs compare to the rest of the country and share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Publication Date: 7/30/2015
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