Resources
Today’s Students Coalitions’ federal policy resources include the most current data on adult students, parenting students, college affordability, equity, and more. Our work has resulted in positive change for today’s students, including access to discounted broadband for Pell students, the establishment of emergency aid funds, and increased financial aid for parenting students.
101: Income-Driven Repayment (IDR)
What is Income-Driven Repayment (IDR)? Income-driven repayment (IDR) is a federal student loan repayment program that allows students to repay their loans based on their income, family size, and loan balance. Since 1994, the federal government has offered income-driven repayment plan options to help borrowers with lower earning power repay loans at a slower pace…
Survey Reveals Gap Between Public and Policymakers When it Comes to Understanding Today’s College Students
Higher Learning Advocates research tests understanding of today’s college students; finding that while the pop culture archetype still holds sway with many in the general public, policymakers are attuned to demographic shifts FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 18, 2018 Contact: Ted Eismeier, teismeier@higherlearningadvocates.org WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 18, 2018) — Today, Higher Learning Advocates, a bipartisan organization working…
Public Comment on Quality and Innovation at U.S. Department of Education Hearing
Bipartisan advocacy group urges the Department of Education to offer regulatory changes “through the lens of putting student outcomes first” WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 6, 2018) — Emily Bouck, Policy and Advocacy Director at Higher Learning Advocates, testified at a hearing held by the U.S. Department of Education today as it considers a negotiated rulemaking process that…
Higher Learning Advocates Submits Comments Opposing Repeal of Gainful Employment Rule
For Immediate Release: September 13, 2018 WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 13, 2018) — Today, Higher Learning Advocates submitted comments in response the U.S. Department of Education’s proposal to repeal the Gainful Employment rule, a federal regulation that holds certain programs at institutions of higher education accountable based on the earning metrics of their graduates. In the written…
The Glossary of Higher Education Policy
Today’s students need a bipartisan and comprehensive rewrite of the Higher Education Act that upgrades quality, strengthens affordability, and promotes the more accountable system of higher education today’s students deserve. Learn to speak higher ed wonk with our resource, “The Glossary of Higher Education Policy”, which provides definitions of commonly-referenced terms in higher ed policy.…
101: Pell Grant Rainy Day Fund
What is the Pell Grant Program? The Pell Grant program is a federal means-tested program that offers postsecondary aid in the form of a grant to be used for tuition, fees, and related expenses. Operated by the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) Office of Financial Student Aid (FSA), the Pell Grant program is available on…
101: Competency-Based Education
More and more of today’s students are adults, parents and older students who are learning outside the traditional academic calendar and often bring substantial work experience and existing college credit. Increasingly, some colleges and universities are measuring a student’s progress based on learning instead of time using competency-based education (CBE). What is Competency-Based Education (CBE)?…
The Keys to Quality: Reforming Higher Education Accreditation Policy
The key to assuring higher education quality in the U.S. is accreditation, the complex system used by the Federal government as a gate-keeping mechanism to over $130 billion annually in federal student aid. But federal accreditation policy has become almost entirely focused on compliance and bureaucratic procedures, instead of what counts: student outcomes and results.…
State Profiles
State profiles feature key data points, visual infographics, and brief explanations of all 50 states, and are a quick and easy resource for policymakers, analysts and media.