Weekly Roundup

McCain Doesn't Have Higher Ed Plan Yet, Key Adviser Says

New York Plans for State Student Loan Program

OMB Ignores Dept. of Ed Request for Speedy Action on Study Request

Massachusetts Law to Establish Coordinated Early Ed System

State legislators in Massachusetts are reviewing the text of a pair of bills that would support the state's efforts to establish a universal pre-kindergarten program (known as MA UPK) by outlining program quality standards, establishing quality measurement procedures, and creating a statewide, 40-member early ed advisory body. Though the bill does not give specifics regarding these standards, it reaffirms the state's commitment to provide diversified pre-k services for all three- and four- year olds. Massachusetts boosted its pre-k budget by $3 million this year, though a state budget shortfall thwarted proposals for much more substantial increases.

Dept. of Ed Requests Emergency Survey on Credit Transfers

Few Colleges Join TEACH program

New Repayment Program for Borrowers May Not Help All Who Need it, Report Says

Louisiana Governor Signs Universal Pre-K Bill

Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) has signed a bill that would extend the state pre-k program, L4, to every 4-year-old in the state. The program is currently available for about 10,000 low-income children. But that doesn't mean Louisiana is ready to join the Universal Pre-K club just yet--first the legislature would have to appropriate enough funding to provide pre-k for all 4-year-olds. Currently only three states--Oklahoma, Georgia, and Florida--offer universal pre-k, although others, including D.C., New York, and Illinois, are working to get there.

California Halts State Oversight of For-Profit Colleges

Ties Between Sallie Mae and Guarantee Agency Come Under Renewed Scrutiny

Student Loans Still a Problem, Says Outgoing Ed. Dept. IG

Hawaii, Illinois Make Steps Towards Enhanced Pre-K

Hawaii's Keiki First Steps program just cleared a big hurdle. The Hawai'i legislature, in a special session Wednesday night, voted to override Gov. Linda Lingle's (R) veto of the program, which would create an Early Learning Council to expand pre-kindergarten for 6,000 more students and coordinate early childhood services in the state. Gov. Lingle objected to the program because of its administrative burden on existing agencies and the projected cost ($170 million over 10 years) but insists that she supports pre-k initiatives in the state. Meanwhile, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) signed legislation on June 30 to extend funding for the state's pre-k program, Preschool for All, through 2010. This is good news for Illinois, which is already a national leader in pre-k. The Preschool for All initiative, begun in 2006, serves 27 percent of 4-year olds and 19 percent of 3-year-olds in the state and is working to become a universal program for 3- and 4-year-olds by 2012.

Modest Increases Proposed for Pell Grants

Dept. of Ed Details Student Loan Rescue Program

Lawmakers Discuss Need for Increased Regulation of Credit Card Marketing on Campuses

Minnesota Unveils Accountability ‘Dashboard'

Compromise Reached on Major Expansion of G.I. Benefits

Bill Would Prevent Lender Discrimination

New SAT Little Better than the Old One

California Bill Would Create Higher Ed Accountability Framework

Challenging Perceptions of the ‘Model Minority'

Report Calls for More College Cooperation on Merit Aid

Risky Lending a ‘Mistake', says Sallie Mae's Al Lord

Education Department Report Reveals Differences in Borrowing, Graduation Rates