Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Fwd: [ASCA Scene] Help Save Pell!



ASCA Scene - New Discussion Topic

Help Save Pell!

ACTION ALERT


ISSUE:

Federal legislators are considering cuts to the Pell Grant that makes postsecondary education possible for our nation's neediest students and ultimately contributes to improving our nation's economic growth. More than 9 million students count on the Pell Grant to enroll in and complete degree programs each year.

ASCA along with the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) are asking all members to take a moment to contact your Senators and Representatives and urge them to support funding the Pell Grant maximum at $5,550.


ACTION IS NEEDED TODAY! VOTES ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN AS EARLY AS THIS AFTERNOON!

Please widely circulate this message and encourage all educators, friends and neighbors to call/e-mail their elected officials. If you have any questions or have difficulty finding your elected official please e-mail Amanda Fitzgerald.


Amanda Fitzgerald, Director of Public Policy

ASCA

 



Monday, July 18, 2011

Share your story and help Save Pell

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Help Save Pell: Tell Your Story

On behalf of the millions of students who depend on Pell Grants to afford higher education, we thank you for asking President Obama to say NO to decreasing the maximum Pell award, or to changing the program’s eligibility requirements. America cannot afford for a deficit reduction agreement to be brokered at the expense of working-class students who are trying to earn their way into the middle class.

The Education Trust's goal is to close the gaps in opportunity and achievement that consign far too many young people to life on the margins. We believe Pell Grants are critical to achieving this goal.

Keep in mind:

  • Nearly 10 million students rely on Pell to be able to afford higher education — and nearly half of all African-American undergraduates and 40 percent of Latino undergraduates are Pell recipients.
  • Thirty years ago, the maximum Pell award was equivalent to about three-fourths of the cost to attend a public four-year college. Today, it covers only about one-third.
  • Pell has already taken its fair share of hits on behalf of debt reduction. Earlier this year, billions were slashed from the program when the government eliminated summer Pell awards.

But these data only tell part of the story. Are you a Pell success story? Were you able to graduate from college because of funding you got from the Pell Grant program? Or do you currently receive Pell support and worry that cuts to the program could force you to drop out?

Tell us your story and help us put a face on the fight to Save Pell.

P.S. To stay connected with the latest news on efforts to Save Pell, “like” the campaign on Facebook and follow our Twitter feed.

 


Sunday, July 17, 2011

Pell Grant

ASCA is working with the Education Trust, state associations, and a number of other organizations to urge Congress and the President to remove the Pell Grant from all negotiations in the upcoming debt reduction and balanced budget votes.

The Pell Grant is being used as a bargaining chip and is in danger. The Education Trust has developed an electronic petition that will be sent to the President. Please consider singing on and forward to your networks.

Please Act NOW! The votes for these issues are expected as early as tomorrow!
http://www.change.org/petitions/president-obama-tell-gop-pell-grants-arent-welfare