National Campaigns
This is an exciting year for federal work concerning students. We are working with USSA on passing the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA), which is a huge step in keeping college affordable as well as spending federal money more wisely.
SAFRA:
-increases the maximum Pell Grant to $5,550 in 2010, and keeps future increases tied to inflation. Pell Grants were originally designed to cover %80 of tuition costs, but currently only cover 1/3. Tying the Pell Grant to inflation +1% will help reverse this trend.
-Invests $3 Billion towards bolstering college access and completion programs.
-Infuses $10 billion in community colleges and
-Invests money in minority students
-Phases out the expensive, ineffective FFEL program, while broadening the Department of Education’s Direct Loan Program.
-Expand and Strengthens the Perkins Loan program
We are also working with USSA on the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act).
It is estimated that 65,000 undocumented students who would qualify for aid under the DREAM act graduate from high school each year. These students were brought into the country by their parents and call the U.S. their home, but their immigration status puts higher education out of reach.
Ineligible for financial aid and often forced to pay out-of-state tuition if they do enroll in classes, financial constraints prevent tens of thousands of undocumented students from following their dreams.
Preventing these students from receiving an education promotes a cycle of poverty and robs us of the talent of these future leaders. Undocumented students should be given the same chance to fulfill their potential as the rest of the students they grew up with.
Who is eligible to benefit:
Students must meet the following requirements to qualify:
-Must have entered the U.S. before the age of 16
-Must have earned a high school diploma, GED or have been accepted into a 2- or 4- year institution of higher learning upon application.
-Must have lived in the U.S. for at least 5 years before the date the legislation is enacted.
-Must display good moral character, generally meaning that the student has no criminal record.
For more information about USSA, click here