By Raymond AlQaisi, Senior Manager of Policy and Advocacy
Reading time: 4 min.
March 15, 2022: This post has been updated to reflect the fact that President Biden signed the fiscal year 2022 budget deal into law.
March 14, 2022: This post has been updated to reflect the House and Senate passage of the fiscal year 2022 budget deal.
Earlier today, President Biden signed a bill to fund the federal government through September 2022. This $1.5 trillion budget deal came to the president's desk after prolonged congressional negotiations over funding levels for fiscal year 2022, which technically began on Oct. 1, 2021.
The bipartisan legislation includes some good news for NCAN members and students: a $400 increase to the maximum Pell Grant for the 2022-23 award year. This brings the max award to $6,895 and is the largest single boost to Pell in more than
a decade (since the 2009-10 award year).
The passage and signing of this bill is a victory for the college access and success community. NCAN members and students led an incredible amount of advocacy efforts in 2021 with an unwavering voice and impact in making the case for Pell increases.
While we have a way to go to restore the maximum grant’s purchasing power to half the average cost of attendance for a bachelor’s degree at an in-state, public institution, millions of students will benefit from receiving a $6,895 award next academic
year.
Overall, the fiscal year 2022 funding bill will make major investments in education including: an increase in Title I funding for high-poverty schools (the largest in over a decade); boosts to TRIO and GEAR UP programs; increases to student aid programs
such as Federal Work-Study; investments in historically under-resourced institutions of higher education that serve high percentages of students from low-income backgrounds; and a massive investment to increase the availability of mental health services
in schools. See below for specific funding levels.
What's Missing
The Democratic proposal to expand federal student aid to DACA recipients was not included in the funding bill.
What Happens Next
In the coming weeks, the Biden administration will release its proposed budget for fiscal year 2023.
Key Education Funding Provisions
Funding to increase the maximum Pell Grant to $6,895, a $400 increase above the FY 2021 enacted level. This is the largest increase in the maximum award in more than a decade.
$1.21 billion for Federal Work-Study, an increase of $20 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.
$895 million for the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program, an increase of $15 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.
$1.14 billion for Federal TRIO programs, an increase of $40 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.
$378 million for GEAR UP, an increase of $10 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.
$65 million for the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS), an increase of $10 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.
$1.2 billion for the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), an increase of $30 million above the FY 2021 enacted level. Within the total amount, the bill includes $467 million for the AmeriCorps program, an increase of $12 million
over the FY 2021 enacted level.
$17.5 billion for Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies, an increase of $1 billion above the FY 2021 enacted level.
The bill provides $885 million, an increase of $96 million over the FY 2021 enacted level, to assist Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) including:
$363 million for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, an increase of $25 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.
$183 million for Hispanic Serving Institutions, an increase of $34 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.
$44 million for Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, an increase of $6 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.
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