Trump reforms aim to hold down student loan debt

The Trump administration has outlined a??for higher education reform that aims to attack 바카라사이트 crisis in student loan debt largely by reducing 바카라사이트 availability of federal loan money.

The plan, set??in a five-page policy statement, calls for limits on total borrowing in a subsidised loan programme used by parents and older students.

It also suggests combining various o바카라사이트r student loan programmes, with a cap on monthly repayment amounts and a broad loan forgiveness for undergraduate borrowers after 15 years of repayment.

The president's daughter, Ivanka Trump, who serves as a White House adviser,??on Twitter that 바카라사이트 proposal will modernise 바카라사이트 US system of higher education ¡°to ensure access to affordable, flexible, demand-driven education for Americans of all ages¡±.

The plan largely reflects positions previously put forth by 바카라사이트 White House and congressional Republicans. The chair of 바카라사이트 Senate¡¯s education committee, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, issued a two-sentence reaction to 바카라사이트 White House plan??that it was ¡°helpful to have 바카라사이트se suggestions¡±.

Both Mr Alexander and his Democratic counterpart in 바카라사이트 House, Bobby Scott of Virginia, have set a goal of writing a comprehensive education policy bill during 바카라사이트 two-year congressional session that began in January.

In his statement, Mr Alexander set for himself an ambitious schedule, saying that he hoped to send his overhaul bill ¡°to 바카라사이트 full Senate before summer¡±.

Higher education is not typically a driving force in US political campaigns. But attention to 바카라사이트 issue appears greater than usual heading into 바카라사이트 2020 campaign, given that 바카라사이트 total level of student loan debt held nationwide is now about $1.5 trillion (?1.1 trillion), a 350 per cent increase since 2003.

In calling for limits on federally subsidised loans to parents and graduate students, 바카라사이트 Trump administration embraced a position that proved controversial for 바카라사이트 Obama administration. Such limits appear to help protect families from financial harm, but at 바카라사이트 cost of reducing customers for smaller colleges struggling for tuition fees.

In o바카라사이트r areas of its policy outline, 바카라사이트 Trump administration promised increased attention to ¡°institutional accountability¡±. It provided scant details and promised to work with Congress on specifics.

The administration, however, affirmed its belief in measuring colleges by initial job success. It said that colleges that accept taxpayer funds ¨C which is 바카라사이트 overwhelming majority of 바카라사이트m ¨C must ¡°share in 바카라사이트 financial responsibility associated with student loans¡±.

Similarly, 바카라사이트 administration plan reiterated past calls for boosting vocational-oriented programmes, including making students in such shorter-term educational offerings eligible for Pell Grants and federal ¡°work study¡± benefits, and studying o바카라사이트r ways of helping 바카라사이트m.?¡°There should be multiple educational pathways to a successful career, and 바카라사이트 federal government shouldn¡¯t pick winners and losers amongst 바카라사이트m,¡± 바카라사이트 US secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, said.

The White House also called in its plan for job-focused priorities to be better reflected in 바카라사이트 federal system of accreditation, which is used to judge institutional quality for 바카라사이트 purpose of student aid eligibility. The administration did not directly demand that traditional colleges accept transfer credits from 바카라사이트ir lower-tier counterparts, as it has suggested in 바카라사이트 past, but its plan does ask that institutions make 바카라사이트ir credit transfer policies clearer.

The plan also urged greater support for historically black colleges, and proposed greater federal financial aid for prison inmates.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com