Fitzgerald, Brian K. 2006. <em>Lowering Barriers to College Access: Opportunities for More Effective Coordination of State and Federal Student Aid Policies.</em> In P. C. Gandara, G. Orfield, and C. L. Horn (Eds.), Expanding opportunity in higher education: Leveraging promise. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.<br />
<br />
In an effort to improve coordination between state and federal policies, Fitzgerald conducted a literature review summarizing college enrollment rates and the barriers to college enrollment for low-income, first-generation college-going, and minority students. He notes that federal and state governments have invested substantial resources in student aid and that many states offer grants that exceed the Pell Grant maximum award, enabling further access for low- and moderate-income students. However, as state budgets become increasingly constrained, state tuition has increased dramatically. Fitzgerald details the college participation gap, citing inadequate academic preparation, confusion and misinformation about the aid application process, and unmet financial need as possible factors that explain lower enrollment rates among college-qualified low- and moderate-income high school graduates. Fitzgerald concludes with several policy recommendations, including adoption of a simplified FAFSA; encouragement of state statutory changes to adopt simpler aid application forms; expansion of the income threshold for Auto-Zero Expected Family Contribution (EFC); and alignment of the Auto-Zero EFC with federal benefits programs, which would help with early identification of students in middle or high school who would qualify for a maximum Pell Grant. These recommendations follow Fitzgerald's central argument that federal-state government access partnerships could boost middle and high school achievement and lower financial barriers to college enrollment.<br />
<br />
Heller, Donald E. 2006. <em>Early Commitment of Financial Aid Eligibility.</em> American Behavioral Scientist 49(12): 1719&#8212;1738.<br />
<br />
This article focuses on the detrimental effects of low-income students hearing about financial aid eligibility late in the college admissions process. The first section analyzes how the notification of eligibility for financial aid currently works and the type of students who receive various forms of financial aid. The second section describes a few programs that offer early commitment of financial aid eligibility to students, provided that they fulfill a set of criteria such as maintaining a certain GPA, attending tutoring programs, and applying for financial aid during their senior year of high school. Heller notes that there is currently sparse literature on the benefits of these programs, but one could speculate that an increase in college aspirations and motivations are a few positive student outcomes. Barriers to implementing such programs may include lack of funding, limitations in using fixed income limits and other limited means-testing criteria, and a failure to take changes in family financial circumstances over time into account. Heller concludes that there is substantial overlap between students who are eligible for federal programs and Pell Grants, and that policies should take advantage of opportunities to simplify the process for students applying for financial aid earlier in their academic careers. One way to do this is to make the commitment to award a Pell Grant to students who are eligible for the free lunch program while they are in middle school.