Topic: Student Loans

Report examines Tennessee’s efforts to keep schools safe from violence

September 17, 2009 |

A report released Tuesday by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury’s Offices of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) examines Tennessee’s efforts to make sure that its schools are safe.  A legislative request to initiate the report was prompted after a tragic fatal shooting at a Tennessee high school in 2008.

The Keeping Tennessee Schools Safe report provides a comparison of state laws, policies and requirements with accepted best practices for keeping schools safe from violence. The report states that Tennessee has made significant progress since the mid-1990s toward ensuring the safety of its students and school personnel. The 2007 Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE) Act established statewide comprehensive planning and accountability requirements for school districts to meet regarding school safety and violence prevention efforts.

Although safety and violence prevention efforts are addressing most of the identified best practices for safe and secure learning environments, staff and funding needed to implement the requirements are limited and decreasing, according to the report.

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Sections: Education | No Comments

Starting today, student loan payments become more affordable for millions of Americans

July 1, 2009 |

New Financial Aid Benefits Allow Borrowers to Pay Back Loans Based on Their Income

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Starting today, federal student loans will become more affordable to repay as a new Income-Based Repayment (IBR) program takes effect.  IBR will allow borrowers to cap their monthly loan payments based on how much income they earn. This program, in conjunction with a lower interest rate on subsidized – or need-based – student loans and an increase in the Pell Grant scholarship, will help make college more affordable and help alleviate devastating student loan burdens for millions of students, recent graduates and other borrowers.

“This help couldn’t be coming at a better time for borrowers in this tough economy, or for current and future students facing an escalating college affordability crisis,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee. “These benefits will make a serious difference for students and families working very hard to pay for college, and will provide millions of borrowers more flexibility in choosing a career they truly desire rather than one made necessary due to crippling student debt.”

“Under this new program, students no longer have to choose between serving their nation and communities and tackling a mountain of college debt,” explained U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA).  “Our nation is better and stronger when the best and brightest young Americans choose careers in public service.” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Education | No Comments

Debate: Obama, McCain spar over “reality check” versus “blank check” for America

By Christine Anne Piesyk | October 16, 2008 |

Having watched all three presidential debates (and the Palin/Biden VP debate), I just can’t imagine what the GOP was thinking when they nominated John McCain, and followed that up with Alaska’s Governor, Sarah Palin.

Okay, when McCain first popped on the Election 2008 radar back in that early New Hampshire primary, I was next door in Vermont, wondering with a bit of perverse pleasure how McCain managed to dislodge the likes of Romney, Giuliani, and others in a presidential nomination bid. It just got interesting, I thought. Little did I know…

I know now, though, that his nomination has been a boon to the Democratic Party, a boon magnified orders of magnitude by his choice of Palin as VP. Thank you, John for handing over so many states to the Dems. Three times in a row, I watched the debates, and watched the post debate charts fade from red to pink to yellow to light blue…you get the idea. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Education, Events, Opinion, Politics | No Comments

Congress boosts Pell Grant funds; bucks lenders on loan subsidies

By Christine Anne Piesyk | September 7, 2007 |

College students will be getting a financial break, thanks to bi-partisan approval today to an educational finance package that increases Pell Grants to low and middle income students over the next four years and alters the ground rules for student loans.

Both the House and Senate approved the changes, and in the bi-partisan Senate vote the numbers came in 79-12 in favor of the changes, with Democrats citing this win as one campaign promise fulfilled.

“We need a bold new commitment that will enable the current generation of Americans to rise to the global challenges we face. Today we will help millions of students achieve the American dream.”

–Sen. Edward Kennedy, Senate Education Committee Chair «Read the rest of this article»

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