When will DC TAG be expanded??

[Anonymous]

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 its somehow out of bounds to want affordable access to a public university?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Vermont even has a flagship that attracts many DMV area students.

It can do this because only eighteen percent of students are state residents.Even that percentage is inflated because a sizeable number of people with summer homes in Vermont declare it their state of residence. It's particularly common with remote workers and people whose kids go to boarding schools.

University of Delaware is a better comparison for DC, but the majority of its students are out of state.

So an R1 university in DC could be a profit center?

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele 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.

I does not. It brings the cost in line with in state tuition which is low, but not zero.

Montgomery college is $10k instate and $14k OOS…so it brings that down to $4k.

No, DC TAG simply pays the difference between in-state and out-of-state. It brings the price to $10k. You don't get the full $10k if the in-state and out-of-state difference is less than 10k.

It doesn’t pay the full difference if its more than 10k.

Yeah, I should have said it pays the difference up to 10k. The point is that it doesn't lower a $14k out-of-state below an in-state $10k tuition. It lowers it to be equal to the in-state.

Not true. DC TAG pays 10k per year. Period. My DS is attending MC this semester. SC TAG is paying $5,000, we pay the rest. It’s a bargain this semester. Next year we’ll pay 30k for an OOS state college while the resident of that state pay 14k. And when I say we pay 30k, that is AFTER DC TAG.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, DC TAG will get the increase once Dems take back the House and keep White House. The proposed increase is 15k year. If you are concerned Volunteer to elect Biden. Dems control if House and House is the ONLY way.

Or perhaps if DC Dems decide that their other ineffective octogenarian “go to” Eleanor needs to fade into the sunset like Biden (who has no idea what college costs) - real change will occur.

What a silly post. Eleanor’s been the one championing Dc TAG.

[Anonymous]

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.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele 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.

I does not. It brings the cost in line with in state tuition which is low, but not zero.

Montgomery college is $10k instate and $14k OOS…so it brings that down to $4k.

No, DC TAG simply pays the difference between in-state and out-of-state. It brings the price to $10k. You don't get the full $10k if the in-state and out-of-state difference is less than 10k.

It doesn’t pay the full difference if its more than 10k.

Yeah, I should have said it pays the difference up to 10k. The point is that it doesn't lower a $14k out-of-state below an in-state $10k tuition. It lowers it to be equal to the in-state.

Not true. DC TAG pays 10k per year. Period. My DS is attending MC this semester. SC TAG is paying $5,000, we pay the rest. It’s a bargain this semester. Next year we’ll pay 30k for an OOS state college while the resident of that state pay 14k. And when I say we pay 30k, that is AFTER DC TAG.

That is not what the law says:

From amounts appropriated under subsection (i)
the Mayor shall award grants to eligible institutions that enroll
eligible students to pay the difference between the tuition and
fees charged for in-State students and the tuition and fees charged
for out-of-State students on behalf of each eligible student
enrolled in the eligible institution.

(bolding added)

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-106hr974enr/html/BILLS-106hr974enr.htm

One of my sons attends and out-of-state university at which the non-resident tuition is less than $10,000 more more than the resident tuition. As a result, we get less than $10k a year.

[Anonymous]

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.

The thing is, they aren’t “your” streets. DC belongs to the American people. You chose to live in a federal district but that doesn’t mean you get to start charging the rest of use to use OUR national city.

[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.

The thing is, they aren’t “your” streets. DC belongs to the American people. You chose to live in a federal district but that doesn’t mean you get to start charging the rest of use to use OUR national city.

Ok then YOUR state can give DC kids in-state tuition as a condition of getting federal aid.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[jsteele]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.