DC council thinking about giving every student $100k for college

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, private school students shouldn't get the money. This is an incentive to get people to stick with public schools so that the public school system can improve.

I see it more as an incentive to to get people to stay in the city. Many people leave when kids get older, not just for better schools, but for better in-state options for their kids. This new program should follow the same guidelines as the current program. Private school residents pay taxes too.

And people who have no kids also pay taxes. This program is and should continue to be about getting people to stay in the public system.

Well the current program allows all residents to participate public or private so it is not just to boost the public school numbers.

[Anonymous]

So, if your HHI is $251,000 your child is SOL. I don't get the logic. My family is already contemplating a move from the city because of the lack of in-state tuition options. This law would not keep us here, as there is no benefit for those in our income bracket. Oh well.

[Anonymous]

Agreed. State schools do not charge a sliding scale in-state tuition based on HHI---this law shouldn't also. Just give DC residents in-state tuition privileges at any public university---there are just not that many DC high school seniors for that type of tuition benefit to have an adverse impact on any one institution of higher learning. It should also apply to tuition at in-state community/vocational institutions as well---since that's where a lot of DC students who aren't necessary college materials could really benefit.

[Anonymous]

Looking forward to this assistance program helping many students. The DC Tag is wildly successful. I hope this program is quickly adopted.

[Anonymous]

Wouldn't it be a better idea to (please don't laugh because I'm serious) make UDC a first rate competitive university and grant in state tuition? There is little benefit to sending our students to college in other states from which they may never return. One reason states have quality state universities is to ensure they have a constant flow of well educated citizens to manage government and businesses which helps their economies to grow. It would take time, but UDC like any college could be made great over a period of time. It would take money and effort but it would be a much better investment than sending our tax dollars and our brightest students away to other states , perhaps never to return.

[Anonymous]

Yes, the solution should be not a gift of $100,000. The solution should be that if your child is accepted and elects to attend UVA and the cost for Virginians is $15,000, but the cost to non-Virginians is $35,000, DC would pay VA the $20,000 for four years. The child/parent would then be responsible for the $15,000 normal difference.

DC could always place a cap on the total amount that it would pay in tuition difference, to avoid shenanigan manipulations from the universities. But, that cap should be for all DC residents, not a select few. Otherwise, this new proposed legislation defeats the purpose of its targeted audience.

DC has a lot of good colleges in the town, unfortunately they are all private. My family HHI is too high for FA and too low to avoid substantial educational debt for DC. That's why we are looking to minimize the financial impact by moving to ugly VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking forward to this assistance program helping many students. The DC Tag is wildly successful. I hope this program is quickly adopted.

The Tag program is open to all, not some.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't it be a better idea to (please don't laugh because I'm serious) make UDC a first rate competitive university and grant in state tuition? There is little benefit to sending our students to college in other states from which they may never return. One reason states have quality state universities is to ensure they have a constant flow of well educated citizens to manage government and businesses which helps their economies to grow. It would take time, but UDC like any college could be made great over a period of time. It would take money and effort but it would be a much better investment than sending our tax dollars and our brightest students away to other states , perhaps never to return.

The politicians have raided UDC funds for decades. A lot of UDC's land was sold-off to developers, eons ago.

[Anonymous]

I think there should be an income cap at $500,000. However it should be open to all DC resident students, public or private. I also think the total amount say $100k should subtract any amounts in 529 plans that the kids will be beneficiaries. So example if your child is the beneficiary of a 529 with $50k you must use that first before you are eligible for this money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't it be a better idea to (please don't laugh because I'm serious) make UDC a first rate competitive university and grant in state tuition? There is little benefit to sending our students to college in other states from which they may never return. One reason states have quality state universities is to ensure they have a constant flow of well educated citizens to manage government and businesses which helps their economies to grow. It would take time, but UDC like any college could be made great over a period of time. It would take money and effort but it would be a much better investment than sending our tax dollars and our brightest students away to other states , perhaps never to return.

The politicians have raided UDC funds for decades. A lot of UDC's land was sold-off to developers, eons ago.

But we can being anew!!! There is no greater investment than to invest in ourselves. It will take time, but if we don't start to begin anew, we'll be in the exact same position in twenty year from now. The city should sell off the current location probably at a nice profit and rebuild a beautiful new campus in the middle of Anacostia. Start new, build a world class campus, hire first rate professors including a Nobel Lauriate or two, seek aid from philanthropists like Gates and Buffett, educate our students and those from other states and nations as well, and revitalize Anacostia.

Don't pay to send our youth to other states. Let's invest in ourselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there should be an income cap at $500,000. However it should be open to all DC resident students, public or private. I also think the total amount say $100k should subtract any amounts in 529 plans that the kids will be beneficiaries. So example if your child is the beneficiary of a 529 with $50k you must use that first before you are eligible for this money.

Oh yeah, brilliant. Well that would stop a lot of people from contributing to those 529 plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't it be a better idea to (please don't laugh because I'm serious) make UDC a first rate competitive university and grant in state tuition? There is little benefit to sending our students to college in other states from which they may never return. One reason states have quality state universities is to ensure they have a constant flow of well educated citizens to manage government and businesses which helps their economies to grow. It would take time, but UDC like any college could be made great over a period of time. It would take money and effort but it would be a much better investment than sending our tax dollars and our brightest students away to other states , perhaps never to return.

Yeah, we'll get on that as soon as Hardy and Hobson become top middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Would the new legislation be addition to or instead of DC Tag? Based on prior posts re the sliding scale, it sounds some families would be better under DC Tag.

[Anonymous]

If DC passes this and does not include ALL residents I will just leave the city and keep my property, but as a Section 8 Rental. I will move to MD or VA where there are In-State options.

[Anonymous]

^^^^^ I was counting on the DC TAG program to help out with tuition cost for my kids. They attend catholic school so they will not be eligible.