It looks like the article is saying that students taking technical or vocational training can get Pell Grants if they are taking the course at a community college or 4-year college. They cannot get Pell Grants for non-college training programs.
Whether that’s good or bad, I can’t say. However, it’s not the same as saying Pell Grants aren’t available for technical or vocational training. If a student wants to take welding, HVAC service, or auto mechanics at his local community college, he can qualify for a Pell Grant under the standard criteria.
I WILL say that Pell grants is probably money better spent than throwing money away monitoring the reproductive tendencies of Turtles that live near the South Carolina coast, or studying how often blind transgender Lesbians have sex, ect. lol
Ideally we’d spend money on none of the above, but if I had to choose a ‘lesser evil’, I’d pay for folks to attend college.
The author is ignorant of the reason we have Community Colleges and Pell Grants. The computer/software education, RNs, paralegals, Criminal Justice two year degree (cops/probation officers,), EMT, Firefighters, Water Treatment Operators/Wastewater Treatment, A/C/Refrigeration, Electricians, and other blue collar job certificates/degrees... so the poor can be educated to perform work that will help them support themselves and not be a burden on the food stamp, welfare, and Section 8 give aways.
The average student can correct their lower grades with preliminary classes before a program starts. The BLET is also taught at a lot of CCs. A much better system than our Universities that allow such leftist lunatics run the curriculum. A lot of Conservatives teach at Community Colleges, or did in the past creating a learning atmosphere, I did. There is no tenure, one must actually perform the teaching and do a good job to stay. You are reviewed by the students, and others.
The author has no real understanding of the value of Pell Grants to the Country and jobs...or how the programs at Community College really work. THE LOCAL JOB MARKET NEEDS THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO GET QUALIFIED WORKERS, AND MANY ARE HIRED DIRECTLY AFTER GRADUATION.
Pell Grants also help those going to four year University get their first two years of what are known as ‘BASIC CORE CLASSES’, which are necessary for any four year degree in America. These are ‘College Transfer’ degrees, and once finished the person can move to their Major and Minor at the University level. The savings of those two years is usually more than $10,000-15,000 on their bachelor degree. Which means a lot lower student loans...or maybe no debt at all.
The CC student lives at home and commutes... He/She is not involved in sororities or parties on campus.....a huge savings for parents.
Community College is great because the actual material is taught and not politics or left/right agendas. Some of that is changing though in past few years. High School students can take these college classes through the HS’s that support their local CC. They get both HS and college credit, which allows them to move into a job in two to three years....and work full time. Actual job qualifications within a year to three years, and ready to work.
America has had this program for many decades and our capitalism has benefited more than lost, even if taxpayers have paid. A student can take a full load of classes for less than $1200-1500 a year, and think about... how much entitlements would have cost if they hadn’t learned a trade, a profession, or prepared for college without student loans...now that Zero is forgiving the student loans. The savings is astronomical!
The US Government should simply eliminate all grants, subsidies and loan guarantees.
Let Higher Education survive on tuition and state money alone.
Nothing else.
And make them file an income tax return EVERY YEAR.
My Pell Grants were more than paid off by my tax rate.
One student I went to school with regularly got Pell grants. She used them to furnish her Section 8 apt.
My daughter was married to a lazy pothead who couldn’t keep a job. She had dropped out in her senior of HS year to marry the bum. She finally had a revelation, pursued and got her GED. She decided nursing was the way for her and she applied for and got a pell grant, enrolled at our then 2 year community college, got all her requisites done in 2 years. Was admitted into the further 2 year nursing school, completed the program and came out an RN. She was able to do it all with Pell grants. There was no way to pursue that level of school and a job at the same time. This was 18 years ago.
She is now a full fledged trauma norse and has worked some of the biggest ER’s in NM and AZ and helped save countless lives. She is currently in a large hospital as an ICU nurse and serves as the Hospital charge nurse when needed. She pulls 70-80 hrs a week making high 80-100k a year. She has more than paid back the grants thru taxes paid.
My grandaughter is following in her footsteps and her pell grant is 2,800.00 a semester. Her tuition and books for 15-16 credit hour course load is about 1900.00 and she received a 900.00 check for the balance of her semester for fees etc. If she is able to duplicate her Aunts feat, she will also be an asset, not a liability. (she got her GED at 16, is 17 1/2 now and already has CNA certification and in her last freshman semester fulfilling requisite courses).
Neither of these girls would have had a chance in the world getting thru a 4 year course of study without the grants. The feds can get quite a return on a $5k annual investment. I am sure there are some gaming the system, but they can’t for long because the grantee has to carry a specific GPA which rises each subsequent grant year to continue study.