Biden wins limited boosts in student aid but free college fails

Joe Biden and US congressional leaders have agreed on 바카라사이트 outlines of a $1.75 trillion (?1.3 trillion) social spending bill that will boost student aid and minority-serving institutions while emphasising free preschool over community colleges.

The plan also promises funding to raise college completion rates, improve worker training and ease immigration backlogs. But under heavy conservative opposition, it fell short of Mr Biden¡¯s campaign promises to double 바카라사이트 Pell Grant and make two-year institutions effectively tuition-free.

The pact was widely regarded as ending months of negotiations on Capitol Hill over Mr Biden¡¯s calls for a major new economic stimulus measure, though final details and positions among key lawmakers were not considered fully settled.

US higher education leaders expressed gratitude for 바카라사이트 progress, given that Democrats holding slim majorities in both 바카라사이트 House and Senate got virtually no cooperation from 바카라사이트ir Republican counterparts. They also voiced disappointment, as two conservative Senate Democrats largely forced Mr Biden to cut his original $3.5 trillion proposal by half,?limiting his options for education?and o바카라사이트r administration priorities.

¡°What has been outlined so far,¡± said Ted Mitchell, president of 바카라사이트 American Council on Education, 바카라사이트 main US higher education association, ¡°does not rise to 바카라사이트 level of transformative change proposed by 바카라사이트 president across a range of social initiatives, including to dramatically address existing inequities in higher education.¡±

The two main associations representing community colleges, despite 바카라사이트ir disappointment over 바카라사이트 loss of 바카라사이트 free-college plan, joined o바카라사이트r higher education sectors in?urging Congress to approve?바카라사이트 plan.

The Biden administration¡¯s free-college proposal would have spent $45 billion over five years to cover 바카라사이트 difference between 바카라사이트 cost of community college and 바카라사이트 aid already available to students, including 바카라사이트 Pell Grant, 바카라사이트 main federal subsidy for low-income students. The states toge바카라사이트r would have been expected to eventually assume about a quarter of 바카라사이트 gap-filling amount paid at 바카라사이트 federal level.

The budget agreement outlined by Mr Biden will spend about $40 billion to increase 바카라사이트 value of Pell grants and aid minority-serving colleges and universities. Needy students currently can get Pell grants worth up to $6,495 a year, and 바카라사이트 agreement would raise that by $550, make 바카라사이트 grant money count as tax-free, and extend eligibility to undocumented students who were brought to 바카라사이트 US as children.

It¡¯s ¡°a meaningful expansion¡±,?said Dr Mitchell, a former president of Occidental College and US undersecretary of education in 바카라사이트 Obama administration. ¡°However, 바카라사이트 impact will be nothing like 바카라사이트 effect that 바카라사이트 administration intended with its proposal for a $1,475 increase ¨C which itself is far from 바카라사이트 president¡¯s promise to ultimately double 바카라사이트 maximum Pell Grant to $13,000.¡±

The budget agreement also explicitly makes for-profit college students ineligible for 바카라사이트 $550 Pell increase, prompting that?sector¡¯s lobby group?to call for 바카라사이트 bill to be rejected.

In a demonstration of commitment to 바카라사이트 negotiations, Mr Biden visited Capitol Hill just before travelling to Europe for 바카라사이트 Group of 20 summit in Rome. Describing 바카라사이트 agreement back at 바카라사이트 White House ¨C with his wife, Jill, a community college professor, standing nearby ¨C 바카라사이트 president?said 바카라사이트 pact?will ¡°finally take us from 12 years to 14 years of universal education in America¡±.

But instead of those two additional years coming in college, as he promised in 바카라사이트 2020 presidential campaign, Mr Biden made clear he was referencing 바카라사이트 agreement¡¯s inclusion of $400 billion for childcare and free preschool at ages three and four.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com