There is currently bipartisan support for criminal justice reform in the United States. One reform, recently passed through the Consolidated Appropriations Act/COVID relief package (December 2020), restored need-based, higher educational aid for incarcerated persons. With a resurgence of college-in-prison programs on the horizon, this article…

This study examines the impacts of two distinct types of school spending on student outcomes. State-imposed revenue limits cap the total amount of revenue that a school district in Wisconsin can raise unless the district holds a referendum asking voters to exceed the cap. Importantly, Wisconsin law requires districts to hold separate referenda for…

Rethinking the balance between federal and state responsibilities for supporting colleges and universities and making higher education accessible and affordable for students is important. There is little disagreement about the current education financing system being inadequate. The debate is about the best way to solve the problem. In this…

Brazil tertiary education has evolved substantially in the last 20 years. The policies set up by the Brazilian government aimed at different targets. There were actions to expand the enrollments in the country's public universities, mainly through a program called Reestruturação e Expansão das Universidades Federais (REUNI). The government also…

In this brief article, immigration lawyer and executive director of Atlas: DIY Lauren Burke describes the challenges faced by "DACA-mented" students--those who have received deportation reprieve through President Obama's 2012 memorandum. Atlas: DIY (www.atlasdiy.org) is a cooperative center for undocumented youth and their allies in…

In this study, the authors examined the impact of two interventions related to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on postsecondary outcomes of low- to moderate-income individuals. The two interventions were included: (1) providing an estimate of need-based aid compared against tuition costs for nearby colleges and assistance in…

This longitudinal, mixed-method study explores how the financial burdens of college attendance impact student involvement and experiences throughout the first year of college. The student participants at 4 Midwestern, public universities were engaged to describe their experiences throughout their first year as they navigated a complex and…

Noting that access to higher education has expanded dramatically in the past several decades, Sara Goldrick-Rab and Kia Sorensen focus on how unmarried parents fare once they enter college. Contrary to the expectation that access to college consistently promotes family stability and economic security, the authors argue that deficiencies in current…

Data from 1969-1972 and 1974-1977 (surrounding implementation of Pell Grants in 1973) and 1984-1986 and 1988-1990 (surrounding eligibility changes for independent students) show that increased federal financial aid for nontraditional students had a significant effect on their college enrollment decisions. (Contains 28 references.) (SK)

Identifies higher education subsidy concerns and evalutates two papers on student financial assistance in this "Economics of Education Review" issue. Faults Ehrenberg and Luzadis for not addressing the Social Security Student Benefit Progam's effect on college attendance decisions and wealth neutrality. Criticizes Schwartz's paper for…

A nationwide survey of 1980 high school seniors conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) showed a significant lack of knowledge among prospective college students regarding financial aid programs. The question of whether college attendance is dependent on knowledge of financial aid programs is discussed. (MLW)

Critics say federal rules for welfare programs have built-in biases against higher education, and financially pinched states also discourage postsecondary education by welfare recipients for political and economic reasons. Issue revolves around use of the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) Training Program. States differ in their approaches…

Chicago, like many cities, suffers from a significant drop-out problem in its public high schools. The Chicago Public School system (CPS) committed itself in 2001 to utilize small schools--intimate learning environments of no more than 300 students built on communication, collaboration and meeting the needs of the community they serve--as a…

The strong urgings of family, economists and educators have been heard: Students in record numbers have picked up the challenge of higher education and are headed for college. And leading the march through the college gates have been young men and women sometimes notable by their absence--Black, Hispanic and American Indian, and students from…

Strategies include cutting costs to make college more attractive, building financial aid by raising tuition, seeking more government assistance, raising the perceived value of higher education, and raising the actual value of higher education. (MSE)