HEA SWEEPSTAKES - S.1965 FEATURES A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE - Reauthorization 1986

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver

Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act is discussed through the HEA conference compromise around S.1965, dated Tuesday, September 16, 1986. The bill would authorize $10.2 billion for 1987 higher education spending, increase the maximum annual Pell Grant to $2,300, and raise Guaranteed Student Loan limits for upperclassmen while maintaining limits for freshmen and sophomores. It would also tighten the ability-to-benefit provision with testing and counseling, introduce new administrative procedures, and include a $5 million income-contingent loan pilot project, with different stakeholders expressing largely positive reactions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

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Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act

S.1965 spending and aid limits

Ability-to-benefit compromise and administration

Stakeholder reactions

Vo1。14,No。178 HEA SWEEPSTAKES:S.1965 FEATURES A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE HEA— Reauthorization ’86 Tuesday,September 16,1986 One could almost hear House and Senate conferees last week mentally divvying upfederal dollars under the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act:“A lit-tle bit for you and a spoonful for you,"they must have thought as they ap-proved s.1965."And,of course,a bit for you.." College and university officials left the HEA conference feeling a bit likethey were being placed on a forced diet that featured small portions.Althoughthis federal Weight Watchers plan had afforded higher education a nutritiousmeal of expanded loan and grants programs,lobbyists were hungry for more. The bill would authorize $10.2 billion in federal higher education spending in1987,some $1.5 billion more than Congress is expected to appropriate(HED,Sept.12)。The authorization limit represents the amount of money Congress may appropriate for higher education,although itrarely approves a level that high. As agreed upon several months ago,the compro-mise package would increase the maximum annual Pell Grant to $2,300 in 1987 and hike the 1987 Guaranteed Student Loan(GSL)annual limit to $4,000 for upperclassmen,while maintaining a $2,50011mit forfreshmen and sophomores. However,the bill actually would represent a decrease in the overall authori-zation limit from the $11.9 billion set for fiscal 1986.In addition,it in-cludes few new programs. Higher education observers say s.1965 is the best bill that could be forged inthe shadow of the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings balanced budget law.There are prov1-sions to please state colleges,private institutions,proprietary schools,stu-dent aid officers and Education Department officials. "It is an extraordinarily wel1-balanced bil1,"said Peter Rogoff,governmentalrelations staffer with the National Association of Independent Colleges andUniversities."The bill takes into account all sectors of higher education." Added Jerold Roschwalb,director of governmental relations for the NationalAssociation of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges,"There is no newPell Grant in the bill.But,given the stress and strain on the committee,thefeeling is that the bill is a positive step." Private institutions,in particular,are pleased with the proposed increase inthe GSL limits for upperclassmen,as well as the increases in other student(more) September 16,1986 loan and grant aid limits."It will be a boost to the juniors and seniors whohave already shown that they will stay in schoo1,"Rogoff said.Moreover,theproposed College Construction Loan Insurance Corp.wiil help many poor indepen-dent colleges,he said,adding "there is a great need out there for institu-tions to leverage credit." Richard Jerue,vice president for governmental relations with the AmericanAssociation of State Colleges and Universitles,said public institutions arehappy with the provisions that would allow Pell Grants and other financialassistance to low-income students attending classes on a less-than-half-timebasis(HED,Sept.12)。 "It is a good bill,"Jerue said after the conference was completed."It wasn'teasy to do." Compromises EvidentVirtually every higher education group can claim avictory.One of the final agreements reached during the conference was a com-promise plan to tighten the ability-to-benefit provision affecting federal stu-dent aid,a plan drafted by the American Association of Community and JuniorColleges,as well as three proprietary school organizations:the Association ofIndependent Colleges and Schools,the National Association of Accredited Cosme-tology Schools and the National Association of Trade and Technical Schools. The rule,which would allow students without high school diplomas to have ac-cess to federal aid if they can prove they have the ability to benefit from theeducation,would have been eliminated under the Senate's original plan. The compromise,which requires testing and counseli

FAQs

What does S.1965 authorize for 1987 higher education spending?

It would authorize $10.2 billion for 1987 higher education spending, about $1.5 billion more than Congress is expected to appropriate.

How would the Pell Grant and Guaranteed Student Loan limits change under the compromise?

The maximum annual Pell Grant would increase to $2,300 in 1987, and the Guaranteed Student Loan annual limit would rise to $4,000 for upperclassmen while keeping $2,500 for freshmen and sophomores.

What does the compromise do regarding the ability-to-benefit provision?

It would tighten access by requiring testing and counseling for ability-to-benefit students, with mechanisms to assess academic work and ensure remedial and developmental education.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver