In August 2008, President Bush signed the Higher Education Opportunity Act to expand financial aid opportunities for low-income adults and youth who are pursuing post secondary education and training. This law offers some great benefits to students, such as establishing minimum Pell grant amounts* and allowing year-round grants; these changes go into effect in July 2009.

However, Congress could do much, much more to help you and other students afford education. Important parts of the law won’t go into effect unless Congress decides to provide money to fund them. Provisions that remain unfunded include:

• Increasing the authorized Pell Grant maximum to $6,000 for academic year 2009-10 – a $200 increase. With annual $400 increases provided over the following few years, the total authorized amount for Pell grants could reach $8,000 by 2014-2015: a $2,000 increase!
• Providing financial aid for shorter, intensive programs that are designed to help nontraditional/working adults with families.
• Creating a “Student Success Grant” pilot program to help students successfully stay in school by providing supports such as tutoring, child care, and other types of assistance.
• Piloting $1,000 per semester scholarships to low-income parents who are enrolled in school at least half-time and earn better than a 2.0 (C) grade point average.

Become an advocate for a stronger, better Higher Education Act! Join Women Employed’s Action Network today to receive timely updates and information on how you can take action on this issue and others relevant to your education and career. Through the Action Network, we’ll tell you how to easily contact your Congressional representatives and urge them to support students. You can make a difference! Also, we want to hear your story! Tell us about your struggles paying for school, balancing work, school and family, or anything else you would like to share about your own workplace experiences and the issues that concern you the most as a working woman.

For more detailed information on these and other Higher Education Act provisions, read this factsheet by the Center for Social Law and Policy.

*Ten percent of the maximum awarded for a year. For example, if the maximum grant amount is $4,713, the minimum amount permitted is $471.