New Jersey and other states are hard-pressed to keep tuition down while facing budget shortfalls. Even Maryland, which spends $16 million a year to implement its freeze, may have to increase tuition in the spring to combat rising class sizes and faculty firings.
The federal government can help. Congress is currently moving forward in education reform with the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009. Introduced by House Education Committee Chairman George Miller (D-CA) the bill will make all student loans 100% direct and eliminate private lenders. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill would generate $87 billion in savings over the next ten years.
The current bill directs $10 billion of these savings to go "back to the Treasury to help pay down the deficit." Yes, our national debt is a problem-but taking money away from education is not the solution.
Student debt is increasing so rapidly, that without a freeze, additional students who need more loans will postpone or forfeit going to college.
When Congress comes back to session after the August recess, they could amend the Student Aid Act already set for floor action by directing $800 million dollars - from the $10 billion of savings now going back to the Treasury--- for a nationwide tuition freeze. This policy would help all students and prevent the choice between further debt and missing a college education.
There is currently no national policy of a tuition freeze; a hodgepodge of states have implemented one. Such a change could enable the United States to reclaim its title as the number one country for higher education completion - and maybe other countries will stop beating us in innovation and productivity.
Robert Weiner, a graduate of Blair Academy, was a Clinton White House public affairs director and spokesman for the U.S. House Government Operations Committee. Zoe Pagonis, a graduate of Montville Township High School, is policy analyst at Robert Weiner Associates and a 2008 Maryland Governor's Citation recipient for policy development.
Piece is both in paper's hard copy and online -- link: http://blog.nj.com/njv_guest_blog/2009/08/dont_just_cap_college_tuitions.html
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