Anonymous wrote:Then maybe the USNWR rankings can go back to being somewhat reliable again.

Reliable? You mean an accurate picture of how well a school educates wealthy white people?

Anonymous wrote:No it will not. Pre-1980 Health, Education, and Welfare handled the few education issues which belonged at the federal level. States administered at the local level and then down to the individual school districts where most education decisions belong-local control. Don’t worry. The sky is not falling. Education in the US got better results before 1980. Why do people have such a short memory and no historical awareness?

Before 1980? Some of these elite colleges did not even admit women until the 70s. No women admitted at all. How's that for historical awareness? I guess to you that's a great result.

Um, yes, there is a proposal to "reform" Pell grants, as well as get rid of ParentPLUS loans and also "reform" financial needs analysis so middle-class students will qualify for less aid (loans, grants, etc.) Below is from the Repub party official memo:

ReformPellGrants TBD10-yearsavings VIABILITY:HIGH/MEDIUM/LOW • This optionwouldallowtheCommitteeonEducationandtheWorkforcetomake reformstothePell program, suchascappinggrantsatthemediancostof attendanceand/orexpandingPellgranteligibilitytoshort-termcredential programs.

Anonymous wrote:No it will not. Pre-1980 Health, Education, and Welfare handled the few education issues which belonged at the federal level. States administered at the local level and then down to the individual school districts where most education decisions belong-local control. Don’t worry. The sky is not falling. Education in the US got better results before 1980. Why do people have such a short memory and no historical awareness?

Because 1980 was over 45 years ago. Most people that are concerned with this weren't even born or very young. I generally don't disagree with the thought process that the government needs a complete overhaul. There are too many agencies with overlapping responsibilities and authority that could use a good pruning. I disagree with the process in which it is being done.

No it will not. Pre-1980 Health, Education, and Welfare handled the few education issues which belonged at the federal level. States administered at the local level and then down to the individual school districts where most education decisions belong-local control. Don’t worry. The sky is not falling. Education in the US got better results before 1980. Why do people have such a short memory and no historical awareness?

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if it also could get shuffled over to Treasury-- make the grants a tax credit.

That would be a nightmare.

No, they don’t want to abolish the main functions of the department, they just want to break it up and move it to different agencies as political theater. There’s almost no chance it would end up more efficient or effective, it’s just a throwaway speech line.

Anonymous wrote:Then maybe the USNWR rankings can go back to being somewhat reliable again.

You mean when 7 million Americans can no longer attend college? It will “fix” your precious rankings?

I wonder if it also could get shuffled over to Treasury-- make the grants a tax credit.

Anonymous wrote:Pell grants originally were handled by HEW, which now is called HHS. Very likely Pell grants would go back to HHS.

In general, the useful bits of DoEd probably would revert back either to HHS or to DoJ. Educational civil rights that now is in DoEd was carved out from DoJ when DoEd was created.

This mostly is shuffling deck chairs.

Well, won’t that make a fine mess. If you thought the FAFSA upgrade was bad (which was suggested and pushed by republican congressmen), how would this transition work?
Not well, and yes many would get lost in the shuffle while colleges have to make do while they wait for the grants to arrive.

Then maybe the USNWR rankings can go back to being somewhat reliable again.

Pell grants originally were handled by HEW, which now is called HHS. Very likely Pell grants would go back to HHS.

In general, the useful bits of DoEd probably would revert back either to HHS or to DoJ. Educational civil rights that now is in DoEd was carved out from DoJ when DoEd was created.

This mostly is shuffling deck chairs.

I would be surprised if they got rid of the Pell grant. Politically unpopular.

I think the expectation will be that people take out entirely private loans instead of receiving grant money.

Will the Pell Grant disappear or will it be replaced with something else? How will kids who get the grant afford school?