Category: Politics

2010, College Access, College Affordability, Financial Aid, Politics, Research/Policy

The DREAM Act and the Party of “No”

It is of better valor to stay outside of the political arguments, and I most often heed that advice. But events of last week are forcing me to reconsider said advice.

Last week, the DREAM Act was voted down in the Senate on a party-line vote. The DREAM Act allows students who are, by birth, illegal immigrants to gain access to in-state tuition and financial aid for college. As well, it allows them to fast-track for citizenship. Continue reading The DREAM Act and the Party of “No”

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2010, Politics

Leading by (a Bad) Example

By Watson Scott Swail, President and CEO of Educational Policy Institute and EPI International On May 20, The Texas State Board of Education voted to what some people have called “whitewashing” the history and social studies curriculum in the state to counterbalance “liberal-leaning academics.” Some of the changes debated included adding and deleting current political figures from third-grade social studies standards, dismissing the “socialist” United Migrant Workers, … Continue reading Leading by (a Bad) Example

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2010, Financial Aid, Politics, Research/Policy

The Fight is on for Student Loans

By Watson Scott Swail, President and CEO, Educational Policy Institute Yesterday afternoon, The House Education and Labor Committee announced that it will include its legislative reform of the student loan system in the reconciliation bill containing the Health Care plan. If passed, on July 1, 2010 every Title IV institution in the United States will become part of the Federal Direct Student Loan Program (FDSLP). After … Continue reading The Fight is on for Student Loans

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2010, Politics

Robin Hood Gone Bad

By Watson Scott Swail, President and CEO of Educational Policy Institute and EPI International Most of us are glad that 2009 has passed. It was, in the words of the Queen Elizabeth II in 1992, an annus horribilis. You can do the translation. The economy tanked, states were in severe budget situations, and the Administration and Congress battled with budgets and ways to support the economy without … Continue reading Robin Hood Gone Bad

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2009, Politics, Research/Policy

And So This is Christmas…

By Watson Scott Swail, President and CEO, Educational Policy Institute Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all. This time of year always provides us with an opportunity to slow down (ok, not always) and take stock of what we’ve witnessed or accomplished during the past twelve months. In many ways, this has been a year less about education and more about nation building and politics. The … Continue reading And So This is Christmas…

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