When will DC TAG be expanded??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They really should just get rid of DC TAG and all the funding brinksmanship and just give DC kids in-state tuition at any public university in the US. Those universities already get a HUGE amount of federal funding and subsidies in research dollars, Pell grants, student loans, plus their IRS non-profit status that absolves them from paying federal taxes on their income.

Sure, but what's the incentive for anyone except D.C. residents to want to do this? The federal government won't want to pay more than TAG costs; other states won't particularly want to just give discounted tuition to out-of-state D.C. kids. It's a good idea with absolutely no prayer of finding a political coalition to support it.

Here's a better idea: Sell or transfer over UDC to the University of Maryland to become a Washington DC campus. DC can contribute the same subsidy to UMD that it does to fund UDC. UMD would have total control, including over hiring and tenure at former UDC. Let DC students apply in-state to UMD, with an option to start at Van Ness and move over to College Park.

[Anonymous]

Sure, but again, why would Maryland want that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never. Poor kids can get financial aid. DC is broke and isn't going to spend more money to subsidize upper middle class kids' college degrees

It's federal money so it doesn't cost DC anything.

In 2021 Eleanor Holmes Norton succeeded in getting the House to pass an expanded program. But, that language was stripped by the Senate. Expanding DC TAG is normally one of Norton's priorities so I am sure she will keep trying. This year she may be distracted with the RFK transfer. You can read the discussion about Norton's previous attempt here:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/990354.page

I am not sure if she did anything with regard to DC TAG last year. If she did, I didn't hear about it.

Sh didn't. I kept expecting to see the announcement for an increase to $15,000. I mean, sure, the program was meant to close the gap between in state and OOS tuition, but the exponential rise in tuition makes this a nice grant, but nothing close to par. One thing people should know...it is now means tested.

That's too bad. The point of it was for DC residents to have some parity with the opportunities in the 50 states.

It's called UDC. If DC wants a research university, they can fund one. DC Tag should be cancelled or extended to all Americans

Then DC can tax MD and VA residents working in DC.

A commuter tax is prohibited by the Home Rule Act.

With the declining fiscal picture in DC I would NOT expect this amount to be increased any time soon.

Once again, DC TAG is federally funded. It has nothing to do with DC 's fiscal picture.

But DC should invest more in higher ed. In MD or VA my tax dollars would get me access to a range of more affordable colleges.

Virginia has 8.6 million residents, which is more than 10 times D.C.'s population. Maryland has 6.2 million. For D.C. to have even just one campus that's even just the same size as the UMD or UVA flagships, let alone on the same level of quality, would require raising taxes significantly on the residents we have.

UDC does now have a community college branch that's similar in affordability to Montgomery College or Nova Community College, though.

Perhaps it is similar in affordability, but not in quality. MoCo College and NVCC are among the best community colleges in the country. DC's is among the worst.

At least for schools like these TAG is great…assume it brings the cost to nearly $0.

These are not four year colleges. Families that stay in DC through HS deserve a break. The $$ is nominal. If the federal government want to insist we can’t have self determination then they can pony up the pittance to bring college costs on par with the average US state college.

This sentiment is silly (and I plan for my kids to graduate from DCPS high schools in a few years). Families don't "deserve" money just for living in D.C. If anything, they should be means-testing this benefit so it isn't primarily giving upper NW residents (like me) a discount on Big 10 schools.

What in the world? Don’t you have friends and relatives living in other states? Why do you think it's somehow out of bounds to want affordable access to a public university?

I don't think it's out of bounds, but the idea that we in D.C. somehow deserve this benefit because we didn't move away seems silly. And I suspect, though I don't really know for sure, that this particular benefit is, like 529 plans, largely something upper-middle-class families take advantage of. If it's still available when my kids go to college (no reason to think it wouldn't be, it's not that far off), and they qualify, I'll take it, but let's not pretend it's somehow serving some great higher pursuit of justice in the process.

Your reasoning is so off. DC residents deserve the same as MD or VA residents: access to high quality higher education. And no, it’s not just a benefit for the UMC. A DC LMC who can get into a good college is harmed too. That’s the basic point: higher education is something that ought to be provided to all, but DC gets a giant pass on, despite having similar population size & tax revenue as states with decent universities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never. Poor kids can get financial aid. DC is broke and isn't going to spend more money to subsidize upper middle class kids' college degrees

It's federal money so it doesn't cost DC anything.

In 2021 Eleanor Holmes Norton succeeded in getting the House to pass an expanded program. But, that language was stripped by the Senate. Expanding DC TAG is normally one of Norton's priorities so I am sure she will keep trying. This year she may be distracted with the RFK transfer. You can read the discussion about Norton's previous attempt here:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/990354.page

I am not sure if she did anything with regard to DC TAG last year. If she did, I didn't hear about it.

Sh didn't. I kept expecting to see the announcement for an increase to $15,000. I mean, sure, the program was meant to close the gap between in state and OOS tuition, but the exponential rise in tuition makes this a nice grant, but nothing close to par. One thing people should know...it is now means tested.

That's too bad. The point of it was for DC residents to have some parity with the opportunities in the 50 states.

It's called UDC. If DC wants a research university, they can fund one. DC Tag should be cancelled or extended to all Americans

Then DC can tax MD and VA residents working in DC.

A commuter tax is prohibited by the Home Rule Act.

With the declining fiscal picture in DC I would NOT expect this amount to be increased any time soon.

Once again, DC TAG is federally funded. It has nothing to do with DC 's fiscal picture.

But DC should invest more in higher ed. In MD or VA my tax dollars would get me access to a range of more affordable colleges.

Virginia has 8.6 million residents, which is more than 10 times D.C.'s population. Maryland has 6.2 million. For D.C. to have even just one campus that's even just the same size as the UMD or UVA flagships, let alone on the same level of quality, would require raising taxes significantly on the residents we have.

UDC does now have a community college branch that's similar in affordability to Montgomery College or Nova Community College, though.

Perhaps it is similar in affordability, but not in quality. MoCo College and NVCC are among the best community colleges in the country. DC's is among the worst.

At least for schools like these TAG is great…assume it brings the cost to nearly $0.

These are not four year colleges. Families that stay in DC through HS deserve a break. The $$ is nominal. If the federal government want to insist we can’t have self determination then they can pony up the pittance to bring college costs on par with the average US state college.

This sentiment is silly (and I plan for my kids to graduate from DCPS high schools in a few years). Families don't "deserve" money just for living in D.C. If anything, they should be means-testing this benefit so it isn't primarily giving upper NW residents (like me) a discount on Big 10 schools.

Then don’t take it. There are plenty of families in DC who make too much to get aid but paying OOS makes college out of reach, especially with multiple kids. I’d be fine with getting In State with MD & VA schools in exchange for them using our streets.

I doubt there are many families who both make too much money to get aid and have to truly reach to pay for college. If you make too much money for aid, you can afford to send your kids to college. You maybe can't afford it EASILY or without making any tradeoffs (I can't either), but it's not actually like you can't afford to do it.

Why should DC grads get less than grads in any other state in the union? And you need to look at the net price calculator. Costs are prohibitive for many income levels.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never. Poor kids can get financial aid. DC is broke and isn't going to spend more money to subsidize upper middle class kids' college degrees

It's federal money so it doesn't cost DC anything.

In 2021 Eleanor Holmes Norton succeeded in getting the House to pass an expanded program. But, that language was stripped by the Senate. Expanding DC TAG is normally one of Norton's priorities so I am sure she will keep trying. This year she may be distracted with the RFK transfer. You can read the discussion about Norton's previous attempt here:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/990354.page

I am not sure if she did anything with regard to DC TAG last year. If she did, I didn't hear about it.

Sh didn't. I kept expecting to see the announcement for an increase to $15,000. I mean, sure, the program was meant to close the gap between in state and OOS tuition, but the exponential rise in tuition makes this a nice grant, but nothing close to par. One thing people should know...it is now means tested.

That's too bad. The point of it was for DC residents to have some parity with the opportunities in the 50 states.

It's called UDC. If DC wants a research university, they can fund one. DC Tag should be cancelled or extended to all Americans

Then DC can tax MD and VA residents working in DC.

A commuter tax is prohibited by the Home Rule Act.

With the declining fiscal picture in DC I would NOT expect this amount to be increased any time soon.

Once again, DC TAG is federally funded. It has nothing to do with DC 's fiscal picture.

But DC should invest more in higher ed. In MD or VA my tax dollars would get me access to a range of more affordable colleges.

Virginia has 8.6 million residents, which is more than 10 times D.C.'s population. Maryland has 6.2 million. For D.C. to have even just one campus that's even just the same size as the UMD or UVA flagships, let alone on the same level of quality, would require raising taxes significantly on the residents we have.

UDC does now have a community college branch that's similar in affordability to Montgomery College or Nova Community College, though.

Perhaps it is similar in affordability, but not in quality. MoCo College and NVCC are among the best community colleges in the country. DC's is among the worst.

At least for schools like these TAG is great…assume it brings the cost to nearly $0.

These are not four year colleges. Families that stay in DC through HS deserve a break. The $$ is nominal. If the federal government want to insist we can’t have self determination then they can pony up the pittance to bring college costs on par with the average US state college.

This sentiment is silly (and I plan for my kids to graduate from DCPS high schools in a few years). Families don't "deserve" money just for living in D.C. If anything, they should be means-testing this benefit so it isn't primarily giving upper NW residents (like me) a discount on Big 10 schools.

What in the world? Don’t you have friends and relatives living in other states? Why do you think it's somehow out of bounds to want affordable access to a public university?

I don't think it's out of bounds, but the idea that we in D.C. somehow deserve this benefit because we didn't move away seems silly. And I suspect, though I don't really know for sure, that this particular benefit is, like 529 plans, largely something upper-middle-class families take advantage of. If it's still available when my kids go to college (no reason to think it wouldn't be, it's not that far off), and they qualify, I'll take it, but let's not pretend it's somehow serving some great higher pursuit of justice in the process.

There is actually a justification for a benefit that largely serves the middle class. The poor who have the academic achievements necessary for college will get significant financial aid. These days, colleges will roll out the red carpet for them. In DC, they can benefit from DC CAP as well as DC TAG. The rich will simply write a check. But, it is the middle class that is too wealthy for financial aid but not wealthy enough to fund college out-of-pocket that struggles. It makes sense to help that group out.

Agree, but I don’t even thing its a forgone conclusion that poor DC kids will get college paid for. College isn’t just for academic superstars - it’s also for the hardworking kids who could become nurses and social workers and police officers. With no decent option in DC they need to go out of state and their expenses (including room & board) won’t be covered. I’d like to see DC TAG expanded but even more I’d like to see UDC turned into UMBC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure, but again, why would Maryland want that?

Access to tuition dollars. UMBC - DC campus. Love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure, but again, why would Maryland want that?

Access to tuition dollars. UMBC - DC campus. Love it.

Right but Maryland already gets access to tuition dollars from D.C. residents — with no in-state discount.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never. Poor kids can get financial aid. DC is broke and isn't going to spend more money to subsidize upper middle class kids' college degrees

It's federal money so it doesn't cost DC anything.

In 2021 Eleanor Holmes Norton succeeded in getting the House to pass an expanded program. But, that language was stripped by the Senate. Expanding DC TAG is normally one of Norton's priorities so I am sure she will keep trying. This year she may be distracted with the RFK transfer. You can read the discussion about Norton's previous attempt here:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/990354.page

I am not sure if she did anything with regard to DC TAG last year. If she did, I didn't hear about it.

Sh didn't. I kept expecting to see the announcement for an increase to $15,000. I mean, sure, the program was meant to close the gap between in state and OOS tuition, but the exponential rise in tuition makes this a nice grant, but nothing close to par. One thing people should know...it is now means tested.

That's too bad. The point of it was for DC residents to have some parity with the opportunities in the 50 states.

It's called UDC. If DC wants a research university, they can fund one. DC Tag should be cancelled or extended to all Americans

Then DC can tax MD and VA residents working in DC.

A commuter tax is prohibited by the Home Rule Act.

With the declining fiscal picture in DC I would NOT expect this amount to be increased any time soon.

Once again, DC TAG is federally funded. It has nothing to do with DC 's fiscal picture.

But DC should invest more in higher ed. In MD or VA my tax dollars would get me access to a range of more affordable colleges.

Virginia has 8.6 million residents, which is more than 10 times D.C.'s population. Maryland has 6.2 million. For D.C. to have even just one campus that's even just the same size as the UMD or UVA flagships, let alone on the same level of quality, would require raising taxes significantly on the residents we have.

UDC does now have a community college branch that's similar in affordability to Montgomery College or Nova Community College, though.

Perhaps it is similar in affordability, but not in quality. MoCo College and NVCC are among the best community colleges in the country. DC's is among the worst.

At least for schools like these TAG is great…assume it brings the cost to nearly $0.

These are not four year colleges. Families that stay in DC through HS deserve a break. The $$ is nominal. If the federal government want to insist we can’t have self determination then they can pony up the pittance to bring college costs on par with the average US state college.

This sentiment is silly (and I plan for my kids to graduate from DCPS high schools in a few years). Families don't "deserve" money just for living in D.C. If anything, they should be means-testing this benefit so it isn't primarily giving upper NW residents (like me) a discount on Big 10 schools.

What in the world? Don’t you have friends and relatives living in other states? Why do you think it's somehow out of bounds to want affordable access to a public university?

I don't think it's out of bounds, but the idea that we in D.C. somehow deserve this benefit because we didn't move away seems silly. And I suspect, though I don't really know for sure, that this particular benefit is, like 529 plans, largely something upper-middle-class families take advantage of. If it's still available when my kids go to college (no reason to think it wouldn't be, it's not that far off), and they qualify, I'll take it, but let's not pretend it's somehow serving some great higher pursuit of justice in the process.

Your reasoning is so off. DC residents deserve the same as MD or VA residents: access to high quality higher education. And no, it’s not just a benefit for the UMC. A DC LMC who can get into a good college is harmed too. That’s the basic point: higher education is something that ought to be provided to all, but DC gets a giant pass on, despite having similar population size & tax revenue as states with decent universities.

That's more persuasive than the PP, who framed this benefit around being some kind of reward for having stayed in the District. I guess I'd be interested to see the income breakdown of who is claiming the TAG — if it's mostly not benefiting people in Ward 3, maybe there's a better case to make for expanding it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never. Poor kids can get financial aid. DC is broke and isn't going to spend more money to subsidize upper middle class kids' college degrees

It's federal money so it doesn't cost DC anything.

In 2021 Eleanor Holmes Norton succeeded in getting the House to pass an expanded program. But, that language was stripped by the Senate. Expanding DC TAG is normally one of Norton's priorities so I am sure she will keep trying. This year she may be distracted with the RFK transfer. You can read the discussion about Norton's previous attempt here:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/990354.page

I am not sure if she did anything with regard to DC TAG last year. If she did, I didn't hear about it.

Sh didn't. I kept expecting to see the announcement for an increase to $15,000. I mean, sure, the program was meant to close the gap between in state and OOS tuition, but the exponential rise in tuition makes this a nice grant, but nothing close to par. One thing people should know...it is now means tested.

That's too bad. The point of it was for DC residents to have some parity with the opportunities in the 50 states.

It's called UDC. If DC wants a research university, they can fund one. DC Tag should be cancelled or extended to all Americans

Then DC can tax MD and VA residents working in DC.

A commuter tax is prohibited by the Home Rule Act.

With the declining fiscal picture in DC I would NOT expect this amount to be increased any time soon.

Once again, DC TAG is federally funded. It has nothing to do with DC 's fiscal picture.

But DC should invest more in higher ed. In MD or VA my tax dollars would get me access to a range of more affordable colleges.

Virginia has 8.6 million residents, which is more than 10 times D.C.'s population. Maryland has 6.2 million. For D.C. to have even just one campus that's even just the same size as the UMD or UVA flagships, let alone on the same level of quality, would require raising taxes significantly on the residents we have.

UDC does now have a community college branch that's similar in affordability to Montgomery College or Nova Community College, though.

Perhaps it is similar in affordability, but not in quality. MoCo College and NVCC are among the best community colleges in the country. DC's is among the worst.

At least for schools like these TAG is great…assume it brings the cost to nearly $0.

These are not four year colleges. Families that stay in DC through HS deserve a break. The $$ is nominal. If the federal government want to insist we can’t have self determination then they can pony up the pittance to bring college costs on par with the average US state college.

This sentiment is silly (and I plan for my kids to graduate from DCPS high schools in a few years). Families don't "deserve" money just for living in D.C. If anything, they should be means-testing this benefit so it isn't primarily giving upper NW residents (like me) a discount on Big 10 schools.

What in the world? Don’t you have friends and relatives living in other states? Why do you think it's somehow out of bounds to want affordable access to a public university?

I don't think it's out of bounds, but the idea that we in D.C. somehow deserve this benefit because we didn't move away seems silly. And I suspect, though I don't really know for sure, that this particular benefit is, like 529 plans, largely something upper-middle-class families take advantage of. If it's still available when my kids go to college (no reason to think it wouldn't be, it's not that far off), and they qualify, I'll take it, but let's not pretend it's somehow serving some great higher pursuit of justice in the process.

Your reasoning is so off. DC residents deserve the same as MD or VA residents: access to high quality higher education. And no, it’s not just a benefit for the UMC. A DC LMC who can get into a good college is harmed too. That’s the basic point: higher education is something that ought to be provided to all, but DC gets a giant pass on, despite having similar population size & tax revenue as states with decent universities.

That's more persuasive than the PP, who framed this benefit around being some kind of reward for having stayed in the District. I guess I'd be interested to see the income breakdown of who is claiming the TAG — if it's mostly not benefiting people in Ward 3, maybe there's a better case to make for expanding it.

it is means tested so it doesn't matter what ward anyone lives in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never. Poor kids can get financial aid. DC is broke and isn't going to spend more money to subsidize upper middle class kids' college degrees

It's federal money so it doesn't cost DC anything.

In 2021 Eleanor Holmes Norton succeeded in getting the House to pass an expanded program. But, that language was stripped by the Senate. Expanding DC TAG is normally one of Norton's priorities so I am sure she will keep trying. This year she may be distracted with the RFK transfer. You can read the discussion about Norton's previous attempt here:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/990354.page

I am not sure if she did anything with regard to DC TAG last year. If she did, I didn't hear about it.

Sh didn't. I kept expecting to see the announcement for an increase to $15,000. I mean, sure, the program was meant to close the gap between in state and OOS tuition, but the exponential rise in tuition makes this a nice grant, but nothing close to par. One thing people should know...it is now means tested.

That's too bad. The point of it was for DC residents to have some parity with the opportunities in the 50 states.

It's called UDC. If DC wants a research university, they can fund one. DC Tag should be cancelled or extended to all Americans

Then DC can tax MD and VA residents working in DC.

A commuter tax is prohibited by the Home Rule Act.

With the declining fiscal picture in DC I would NOT expect this amount to be increased any time soon.

Once again, DC TAG is federally funded. It has nothing to do with DC 's fiscal picture.

But DC should invest more in higher ed. In MD or VA my tax dollars would get me access to a range of more affordable colleges.

Virginia has 8.6 million residents, which is more than 10 times D.C.'s population. Maryland has 6.2 million. For D.C. to have even just one campus that's even just the same size as the UMD or UVA flagships, let alone on the same level of quality, would require raising taxes significantly on the residents we have.

UDC does now have a community college branch that's similar in affordability to Montgomery College or Nova Community College, though.

Perhaps it is similar in affordability, but not in quality. MoCo College and NVCC are among the best community colleges in the country. DC's is among the worst.

At least for schools like these TAG is great…assume it brings the cost to nearly $0.

These are not four year colleges. Families that stay in DC through HS deserve a break. The $$ is nominal. If the federal government want to insist we can’t have self determination then they can pony up the pittance to bring college costs on par with the average US state college.

This sentiment is silly (and I plan for my kids to graduate from DCPS high schools in a few years). Families don't "deserve" money just for living in D.C. If anything, they should be means-testing this benefit so it isn't primarily giving upper NW residents (like me) a discount on Big 10 schools.

What in the world? Don’t you have friends and relatives living in other states? Why do you think it's somehow out of bounds to want affordable access to a public university?

I don't think it's out of bounds, but the idea that we in D.C. somehow deserve this benefit because we didn't move away seems silly. And I suspect, though I don't really know for sure, that this particular benefit is, like 529 plans, largely something upper-middle-class families take advantage of. If it's still available when my kids go to college (no reason to think it wouldn't be, it's not that far off), and they qualify, I'll take it, but let's not pretend it's somehow serving some great higher pursuit of justice in the process.

Your reasoning is so off. DC residents deserve the same as MD or VA residents: access to high quality higher education. And no, it’s not just a benefit for the UMC. A DC LMC who can get into a good college is harmed too. That’s the basic point: higher education is something that ought to be provided to all, but DC gets a giant pass on, despite having similar population size & tax revenue as states with decent universities.

That's more persuasive than the PP, who framed this benefit around being some kind of reward for having stayed in the District. I guess I'd be interested to see the income breakdown of who is claiming the TAG — if it's mostly not benefiting people in Ward 3, maybe there's a better case to make for expanding it.

Why should it be means tested? Every state university system offers the same tuition based only on residency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure, but again, why would Maryland want that?

Access to tuition dollars. UMBC - DC campus. Love it.

Right but Maryland already gets access to tuition dollars from D.C. residents — with no in-state discount.

It could attract students from other states.

[Anonymous]

The hard reality is that the DC government just doesn’t have the capacity or resources to operate a public university of acceptable quality. Better to let a nearby state university with a solid reputation do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They really should just get rid of DC TAG and all the funding brinksmanship and just give DC kids in-state tuition at any public university in the US. Those universities already get a HUGE amount of federal funding and subsidies in research dollars, Pell grants, student loans, plus their IRS non-profit status that absolves them from paying federal taxes on their income.

Sure, but what's the incentive for anyone except D.C. residents to want to do this? The federal government won't want to pay more than TAG costs; other states won't particularly want to just give discounted tuition to out-of-state D.C. kids. It's a good idea with absolutely no prayer of finding a political coalition to support it.

If people had to give up in-state tuition anywhere for statehood, many people would opt for in-state tuition. That is a reason it might get some support outside of DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They really should just get rid of DC TAG and all the funding brinksmanship and just give DC kids in-state tuition at any public university in the US. Those universities already get a HUGE amount of federal funding and subsidies in research dollars, Pell grants, student loans, plus their IRS non-profit status that absolves them from paying federal taxes on their income.

Sure, but what's the incentive for anyone except D.C. residents to want to do this? The federal government won't want to pay more than TAG costs; other states won't particularly want to just give discounted tuition to out-of-state D.C. kids. It's a good idea with absolutely no prayer of finding a political coalition to support it.

If people had to give up in-state tuition anywhere for statehood, many people would opt for in-state tuition. That is a reason it might get some support outside of DC.

D.C. isn't likely to get either statehood or in-state tuition in other states, there is just no reason anyone who doesn't live in D.C. would be in favor of this proposal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never. Poor kids can get financial aid. DC is broke and isn't going to spend more money to subsidize upper middle class kids' college degrees

It's federal money so it doesn't cost DC anything.

In 2021 Eleanor Holmes Norton succeeded in getting the House to pass an expanded program. But, that language was stripped by the Senate. Expanding DC TAG is normally one of Norton's priorities so I am sure she will keep trying. This year she may be distracted with the RFK transfer. You can read the discussion about Norton's previous attempt here:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/990354.page

I am not sure if she did anything with regard to DC TAG last year. If she did, I didn't hear about it.

Sh didn't. I kept expecting to see the announcement for an increase to $15,000. I mean, sure, the program was meant to close the gap between in state and OOS tuition, but the exponential rise in tuition makes this a nice grant, but nothing close to par. One thing people should know...it is now means tested.

That's too bad. The point of it was for DC residents to have some parity with the opportunities in the 50 states.

It's called UDC. If DC wants a research university, they can fund one. DC Tag should be cancelled or extended to all Americans

Then DC can tax MD and VA residents working in DC.

A commuter tax is prohibited by the Home Rule Act.

With the declining fiscal picture in DC I would NOT expect this amount to be increased any time soon.

Once again, DC TAG is federally funded. It has nothing to do with DC 's fiscal picture.

But DC should invest more in higher ed. In MD or VA my tax dollars would get me access to a range of more affordable colleges.

Virginia has 8.6 million residents, which is more than 10 times D.C.'s population. Maryland has 6.2 million. For D.C. to have even just one campus that's even just the same size as the UMD or UVA flagships, let alone on the same level of quality, would require raising taxes significantly on the residents we have.

UDC does now have a community college branch that's similar in affordability to Montgomery College or Nova Community College, though.

Perhaps it is similar in affordability, but not in quality. MoCo College and NVCC are among the best community colleges in the country. DC's is among the worst.

At least for schools like these TAG is great…assume it brings the cost to nearly $0.

These are not four year colleges. Families that stay in DC through HS deserve a break. The $$ is nominal. If the federal government want to insist we can’t have self determination then they can pony up the pittance to bring college costs on par with the average US state college.

This sentiment is silly (and I plan for my kids to graduate from DCPS high schools in a few years). Families don't "deserve" money just for living in D.C. If anything, they should be means-testing this benefit so it isn't primarily giving upper NW residents (like me) a discount on Big 10 schools.

Narrator: It is means tested already.

Is it? I'm not aware of any income limits on who's eligible for it.

Literally means tested for years.

https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/publication/attachments/Information%20on%20DCTAG%20Maximum%20Income_2023.pdf