Weekly Roundup

Student Loan Credit Crunch Bill Sent to President

One in Five Colleges Considering Switch to Direct Lending

Tuition On the Rise, but Spending for Instruction is Not

Report Calls for Revised Pell Grant Formula

House Passes Bill to Ease Credit Crunch Impact on Student Loans, Others in the Works

No Crisis Here, Says American Council on Education

Dems Introduce Legislation to Allow Private College TA Unions

Student Aid Bill Approved by House Committee

Fed Chairman Rebuffs Calls from Pro-FFEL Lawmakers for Lender Bail Out

Settlement Doesn't Stop Sallie's Online Presence, Chronicle Investigation Finds

Students at Trade Schools Most Likely to Borrow, New Study Shows

Changes Ahead in Future Applicant Pool

Ed Dept. Officials Reassure Students of Loan Availability

Kennedy Offers Amendment to Increase Fed. Loan Limits

Lawsuit Alleges Online University Bilked Billions from Ed Dept.

Two Companies Announce End to Controversial Loan Programs

Boston Launches Birth to Five Initiative

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino announced plans on Thursday for a 10 year program to expand and streamline early education services for Beantown’s youngest learners. The public-private partnership, "Thrive in Five", will align educators, health and human service providers, city departments and the private sector to connect families with local services and ensure that day-care providers offer high-quality pre-k programs. The City of Boston, The United Way, local hospitals and others have already committed $3.25 million for the program. Boston's schools have made significant progress under Menino's leadership, and working to extend those education improvements down into the early years is a logical next step. 

Cuomo Targets Sallie Mae Again

Truth in Tuition Advances in Maryland

 Pre-K Gets a Boost in Kansas

More kids in pre-k now means less crime in the future, say law enforecement officials, who went to the Kansas legislature Tuesday to support pre-k. Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, a strong pre-k supporter, highlighted the importance of early education programs in her January State of the State address. Sebelius' FY 2009 budget proposal includes a $30 million increase in funding for early education, most of which will go to block grants for at risk children, and a $1.2 million boost to the state’s pre-kindergarten program.

Idaho Legislature Considering Pre-K

Idaho lawmakers will vote next week on two bills that could be the first steps to developing a state pre-k program. The legislation under consideration would fund a survey of existing pre-k programs in the state, allow local governments to levy funds for pre-k, and establish 10 state-funded pilot programs. This is a big step: Idaho is one of only 8 states that don't fund pre-k, and current Idaho law actually prohibits spending public school funds to serve children younger than 5. A recent survey by Boise State University shows that a majority of Idaho residents support state funding for pre-k while the Idaho legislature has repeatedly blocked attempts to make it happen..

Governors in TN, VA Defend Pre-K Programs

Tennessee governor Phil Bredsen (D) says it would be a "terrible, terrible mistake" if the state legislature rejects his plan for an additional $25 million in pre-k spending, which would move the state towards universally available pre-k for all four-year olds by 2011. Lt. Gov Ron Ramsey (R) says the program is too expensive in a year when the state faces a $182 million shortfall. Meanwhile, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D), who is dealing with a $1.8 million budget shortfall, is fighting to protect his $25 million plan to expand the state pre-k program to cover all four-year olds eligible for free and reduced school lunches. [slideshow]

Plan in Georgia to Extend Pre-K to 3 Year Olds

Debate is heating up in Georgia about a plan to extend the state’s universal pre-k program to include three-year-olds. Democratic lawmakers in the state house proposed using $25 million from the state lottery fund to create pre-kindergarten classes for 5,000 three-year-olds. More than 72,000 four-year-olds are enrolled in the state’s pre-k program, the nation's oldest universal pre-k program.

Pre-K Increases Economic Mobility