Higher Education Act reauthorized

摘要

After six years of work and stalemate, Congress in late July finally reauthorized the Higher Education Opportunity Act, a cornerstone piece of legislation with the primary function of authorizing spending for a variety of higher education financial aid programs. President Bush signed the bill on August 14. Although the bill contains provisions supported by the education community, including financial aid for low-income students, it also includes a number of new reporting requirements that higher education institutions opposed because they would increase administrative costs. The bill will increase Pell grants to low-income students to $8,000 a year (up from $5,800) by 2014 and will allow part-time students to use the grants for a full calendar year. It includes a program that forgives up to $10,000 in loans for students enrolling in high-needs areas. Eligible fields include nursing, child welfare, applied science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.