Congress returns to work this month facing a litany of major
education issues affecting African Americans and other students of
color.
After a year of public hearings and draft proposals, the House and
Senate will tackle the nuts-and-bolts work of reauthorizing the Higher
Education Act (HEA) this year. HEA is the major federal law governing
aid to colleges and universities.
Since 1998 is an election year, the House may finish its committee
work by summer with hopes of moving legislation to the floor well
before any expected adjournment dates. Here is a quick update on key
HEA topics:
* Student aid: Countless ideas abound, from so-called “super” Pell
Grants for the neediest students to expansion of the maximum grant and
more aid to independent students. One plan that is getting high marks
is Rep. Chaka Fattah’s (D-Pa.) proposal to give at-risk, disadvantaged
youth early information about the type of federal aid available for
college. The Education Department has expressed support for this
initiative.
* TRIO: This program to recruit disadvantaged students for college
and provide them with vital support services may hit its political
stride this year. Education advocates long have supported such efforts,
and conservatives praised the concept in discussions with President
Bill Clinton on ways to find common ground on racial issues. HEA
reauthorization and the president’s ongoing Initiative on Race may give
the program more national attention in 1998.
* Title III: The program, that includes aid to historically Black
colleges and universities (HBCUs), enjoys substantial support on
Capitol Hill. But a proposed expansion of the program may prove tricky.
Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) and tribal colleges both want
separate Title III authorizations, and HSIs also are seeking changes in
how the government classifies a Hispanic institution. Expanded Title
III funding also is on the agenda for all groups.
* Default exemption: HBCUs and tribal colleges currently have an
exemption from federal loan-default sanctions, but that exemption
expires July 1. Without an extension, many institutions enrolling
low-income students may find themselves at risk of losing access to
federal grant and loan programs.
