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Access to Higher Education for Non-Traditional Age Students - USA

Page history last edited by Robert Hackett 13 years, 5 months ago

Note: please note that this issue brief should (a) link back to the issue overview on this topic, (b) be focused either the local, state, national, or global level, and (c) be neutrally presented, based on facts, and include footnotes for each of the items. See the Research Guide and Information Sources to assist you.

Scope of the Problem factual statements on the extent of the problem in the past, current, or future

Income eligibility for the one million families who receive child care assistance ranges from just above the poverty line in Missouri to 275 percent of the poverty line in Maine. The Urban Institute has calculated that 2.7 million people would be lifted out of poverty if child care assistance were provided to all families with children whose incomes are below 200 percent of the federal poverty line (FPL). ^[1]
In 33 states and the District of Columbia, the annual cost of center-based child care for a preschooler is more than the annual tuition at a 4-year public university. ^[2]
In the US a high school graduate earns a median of $591 weekly, with some college $645, with an Associate's degree $736, and with a Bachelor's $978.^[3]

Past Policy key legislation and milestones including significant policy and funding shifts, major studies, etc.

Current Policy summary of current policies in the form of legislation, programs, and funding

Federal Pell Grant^[4] - A grant based on income, family size, family contribution, cost of attendance, and other factors.
National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant^[5] - A grant for those who are pursuing a career in mathematics or science.
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant^[6] - A grant for those who are pursing a career as a teacher for children up to grade 12.
Federal Stafford Loan^[7] - A loan program that comes in two varieties: subsidized or unsubsidized.
Campus-Based Programs^[8] - Programs that vary campus to campus.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant^[9] - For those that have specific circumstances.
Federal Work-Study^[10] - A program that offers employment that helps pay for education.
Federal Perkins Loan^[11] - A loan program that can be used with the Stafford Loan or seperately.
The Hope Scholarship Credit for a non-refundable credit on Federal taxes^[12] - A non-refundable credit on Federal taxes.
The Lifetime Learning Credit for a non-refundable credit on Federal taxes^[13] - A non-refundable credit on Federal taxes.
Federal tax tuition deduction of up to $4,000^[14] - A federal tax deduction.
Deductable interest on qualified student loans ^[15] - A deduction for the amount paid on the interest of a student loan.
Earned Income Tax Credit for those with earned income under certain thresholds^[16] - A refundable Federal tax credit.
Child Tax Credit for those with a qualifying child^[17]
Child and Dependent Care Credit^[18] - A non-refundable credit that is based on the amount spent on child or dependent care.
Private scholarships - such as the Patsy Takemoto Mink Educational Foundation

Key Organizations/Individuals contacts for public and private organizations and key individuals

United States Department of Education
Achieving the Dream: Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count is a multiyear national initiative to help more community college students succeed. The initiative is particularly concerned about student groups that traditionally have faced significant barriers to success, including students of color and low-income students. Achieving the Dream works on multiple fronts, including efforts at community colleges and in research, public engagement and public policy. It emphasizes the use of data to drive change.
Association of Nontraditional Students in Higher Education
National Women's Law Center

Bibliography web sites, reports, articles, and other reference material

Children's Defense Fund's report: State of America's Children 2008
Bureau of Labor Statistics on potential earnings by education.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the starting point for many students' process for financial aid and has descriptions of the many forms of aid a student may qualify for.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) webpage with information about the HOPE Credit, Lifetime Learning Credit, tuition deduction, and student loan interest deductions.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) webpage with information about tax credits for parents or guardians.
Patsy Takemoto Mink Educational Foundation is a private scholarship for nontraditional students.