ACE and other higher education institutions and organizations sent a letter this week urging members of Congress to continue their bipartisan support of federal student aid programs to enable low- and middle-income students to succeed.
The letter, which was coordinated by the Student Aid Alliance, represents a diverse range of organizations nationwide, from colleges and universities to associations and nonprofits focused on college access, attainment, preparation, and financial assistance.
The groups requested raising the statutory budget caps for FY 2020 and FY 2021, as well as providing specific increases in funding for programs such as Pell Grants, Federal Work Study, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, TRIO, and GEAR UP. “The benefits of restoring funding in this manner are clear and direct. Enabling students to pursue postsecondary education has significant benefits for our country as a whole,” the group wrote. “A better-educated workforce means a stronger economy with lower unemployment, greater earnings, and less need for social services. A real effort to build our economy requires a vigorous postsecondary education component.”
The Student Aid Alliance is co-chaired by ACE and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.