Lawmakers unveil proposals to make college more affordable for low-income students
“A bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill Monday that would overturn a federal ban on tracking student outcomes like on-time graduation and job placement. Congressional Democrats also unveiled a legislative agenda Monday aimed at increasing college access through efforts like upping the value of the Pell grant, the money the government provides to low-income students to attend college, and encouraging states to invest more in their higher education institution. Both the efforts come as lawmakers and higher education leaders wait for more insight as to how Betsy DeVos’s Department of Education plans to address student debt and college costs. So far, the Department has been derided by critics for taking steps that they say could make it easier for companies involved in the student loan system to mistreat borrowers. But other than those moves — which came in the form of court documents and public, internal memos — the administration has been relatively tight lipped about its approach to higher education.”