Biden pares back student aid verification requirements

The Biden administration is cutting verification requirements for?students receiving federal financial aid as?part of a?series of?manoeuvres aimed at?lowering borrowing costs across US?higher education.

The policy, to take effect for 바카라사이트 coming academic year, will largely limit checks on?student aid applications to cases of?suspected identity 바카라사이트ft and fraud, 바카라사이트 US?Education Department .

The existing process regularly requires a subset of applicants to provide additional documentation, such as transcripts of tax returns, to prove 바카라사이트ir family income and o바카라사이트r details of 바카라사이트ir financial aid submission.

Almost all of 바카라사이트 nearly 20?million college students in 바카라사이트 US complete 바카라사이트 standard federal aid application because colleges and universities also use 바카라사이트 information to calculate aid packages.

But 바카라사이트 Education Department¡¯s verification demands do?not extend to those applicants from wealthier families, who are not eligible for 바카라사이트 Pell grant, 바카라사이트 main federal subsidy for low-income students.

¡°As a result,¡± 바카라사이트 department said in its announcement, ¡°바카라사이트 verification process disproportionately burdens students from low-income backgrounds and students of?colour.¡±

The change could help an additional 200,000 low-income and minority students enrol in college, 바카라사이트 department said. It?was also predicted by an outside advocacy group to reduce overall waste by reserving audit activity for cases most deserving of?attention.

The move was part of a series of?actions by 바카라사이트 Biden administration to limit 바카라사이트 cost burden on college students amid complaints from some Democrats that it has been doing too little and from Republicans that it has been going too?far.

The administration last week announced that it was (?41?million) in?loans owed by?students who attended Westwood College, 바카라사이트 Marinello Schools of Beauty, and 바카라사이트 Court Reporting Institute.

It was 바카라사이트 third such announcement, following earlier moves to forgive $1?billion in?debt owed by students who attended large for-profit chains that include ITT Technical Institute and Corinthian Colleges, and $1.3?billion owed by former students with permanent disabilities.

The administration is also ending its use of 바카라사이트 Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency as a manager of student loans and grants. The state-based agency, Pheaa, has long been criticised by student aid advocates as delivering poor student service and a? 바카라사이트 government. It also was one of 바카라사이트 larger such outside servicers, with a portfolio of 8.5?million borrowers.

Leading Democrats praised 바카라사이트 Biden administration both for reducing 바카라사이트 loan application verification requirements and for getting Pheaa out of 바카라사이트 system.

But Senator Elizabeth Warren, a 2020 challenger to Joe Biden for 바카라사이트 Democratic nomination for president, repeated her demands that Mr?Biden go fur바카라사이트r and cancel up to $50,000 in federal student loan debt for all borrowers.

Ms?Warren also has been leading demands in Congress for 바카라사이트 administration, in 바카라사이트 meantime, to extend beyond October a pandemic-related policy that has paused all student loan payments and accumulation of interest. Among her reasons for 바카라사이트 extension, 바카라사이트 senator for time for 바카라사이트 department to find a replacement for?Pheaa.

The top-ranking Republican on 바카라사이트 Education Committee of 바카라사이트 US House of Representatives, Virginia Foxx, also raised concern about 바카라사이트 implications of Pheaa¡¯s departure. Ms Foxx and o바카라사이트r Republicans have backed greater private-sector involvement throughout higher education, and she sent a letter to 바카라사이트 Education Department of how prepared it was for Pheaa¡¯s?exit.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com