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PELL Act
3/14/2024, 10:29 AM
Summary of Bill S 2442
If passed, the PELL Act would increase the maximum Pell Grant award to help cover the rising costs of tuition, fees, and other expenses associated with attending college. This increase in funding would make it easier for low-income students to afford a higher education and pursue their academic goals.
In addition to increasing the maximum award amount, the PELL Act also aims to simplify the application process for Pell Grants and make it easier for students to access this financial aid. This would help ensure that more students who qualify for assistance are able to receive the support they need to attend college. Overall, the PELL Act is a bipartisan effort to support low-income students in their pursuit of higher education. By increasing the maximum Pell Grant award and streamlining the application process, this legislation seeks to make college more affordable and accessible for all students, regardless of their financial background.
Congressional Summary of S 2442
Promoting Employment and Lifelong Learning Act or the PELL Act
This bill expands student eligibility for Pell Grants by establishing the Workforce Pell Grants Program.
Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to award Workforce Pell Grants to students enrolled in eligible short-term programs. Eligible programs are those that provide 150 to 600 clock hours of instructional time over a period of 8 to 15 weeks and meet other eligibility criteria.
An accrediting agency or association recognized by ED must determine a program's eligibility based on several criteria, including that the program provides education aligned with the requirements of in-demand industry sectors and occupations and meets specified completion and job placement rates.
ED must annually collect and publish information on the College Scorecard regarding each eligible program, including job outcomes. The College Scorecard is a comparison tool for information on school sizes, settings, graduation rates, average costs, and salary ranges per field of study.
