By Raymond AlQaisi, Policy and Advocacy Manager, and Kelly Mae Ross, Communications Manager
NCAN members and the students they serve have witnessed and experienced the power of the Pell Grant. But what if this need-based financial aid could take students even farther in their postsecondary journey by covering more of the cost of college?
Over the next few weeks, policymakers in Washington will hopefully finalize funding for education programs,
including the Pell Grant. However, Congress has yet to take decisive action, and if they fail to do so, the Pell Grant for the next award year could remain flat.
The timeliness of these discussions was all the more motivation for NCAN’s 2021 #Thankful4Pell #DoublePell Advocacy Week, which was powered by the efforts of our members and students across the country.
In total, 70 members sent 221 messages to 88 elected officials (34 senators and 54 representatives) stressing the importance of the Pell Grant program and requesting their support of efforts to increase funding. Currently, Congress has opportunities to
add a total of $950 to the maximum award.
Prior to the pandemic, many public colleges and universities were unaffordable for students who receive Pell Grants, according to NCAN research. Given the pandemic's severe economic effects, students
face even more obstacles persisting in education after high school. The potential increase of $950 is a necessary step toward NCAN’s ultimate goal to have Congress double the maximum Pell Grant amount. Doubling the maximum Pell Grant would restore
its value to about half of the annual cost of in-state tuition, fees, room, and board at a public four-year institution.
But, as always, there are many competing priorities in Washington. That’s why it’s so important for our members and students to continue advocacy around the importance of federal need-based financial aid (Pell Grants help nearly 7 million students access
postsecondary education each year) and increased funding to better support student success.
In addition to sending emails to Congress, NCAN members and partners came out in full force on social media, using Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms to help raise awareness of our advocacy efforts. (See some of their great posts below.)
On the last day of #Thankful4Pell Week (Friday, Nov. 19), the U.S. House of Representatives passed a mammoth social spending package that includes, among many other things, a $550 increase to the maximum Pell Grant. While advocates for increased education
funding welcome this development, the Build Back Better Act still has a way to go before becoming law.
The Senate now has its say and can potentially make changes to the bill.
NCAN will continue to update our members on these crucial federal funding and spending matters.
Members and students who missed recent opportunities to reach out to their representatives can still do so through our Action Center, which allows you to easily send a prewritten message of support for Pell funding, with an option to personalize your correspondence.
December will be an extremely busy month in Washington, and lawmakers will be making decisions that could affect our students. We are grateful for all your collective efforts to make sure students – no matter their race, ethnicity, or income – have access
to high-quality, affordable postsecondary opportunities.
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