This document discusses advocating for Pell Grants by community colleges. It provides an overview of Pell Grants, noting their importance for access to higher education. It outlines the growth of Pell Grants, especially at community colleges, and the political challenges in fully funding the program. It encourages grassroots advocacy efforts to maintain the maximum $5,550 Pell Grant for fiscal year 2012 given budget pressures in Congress. Contact information is provided for further resources.

1. Stand Up for Pell Grants!
Community College Action Campaign
June 21, 2011
David Baime
AACC Senior VP, Government Relations &
Research
Jee Hang Lee
ACCT Director of Public Policy

2. Overview of Presentation
• Introductions
• Why Pell Grants Matter
• Community College Students and Pell
• Pell Grant Program Growth
• Politics and Funding Landscape
• FY 2012 Funding Status
• FY 2012 Appropriations
• Community College Grassroots Advocacy
• AACC‐ACCT Resources
• Questions

3. Why Pell Grants Matter
• Pell Grants = Access and Success at Community Colleges
for Millions of Financially Needy Students
• Pell Grants Represent the Federal Government’s Primary
Commitment to Ensuring Equality of Opportunity to
Higher Education
• Traditionally All Parties, Branches of Government, Sectors
of Higher Education and the American Public Strongly
Support the Pell Grant Program

4. Community College Students
and Pell Grants
• Pell Grants Have Been the Primary Funding Source for
Community College Students
• More Important Now Than Ever as a Result of Tuition
Increases, State and Local Cuts
• During Recession, Tuitions Have Risen (7.3% in 2009‐10
and 6% in 2010‐11) while Incomes Have Declined
• Pell Grant Maximum is Currently $5,550
• Enrollments at Community Colleges Have Surged

5. Community College Students
and Pell Grants
• Community College Pell Grants Have Increased
Dramatically, Paralleling Program Growth
• 38% Increase in Pell Cost in 2009‐10 from Prior Year
• Over 2.8 Million Community College Pell Awards in 2009‐10
• Community College Students Received Over $9.3 Billion in
Pell Grants in 2009‐10
• Community College Students Received 31% of Pell Dollars
and Represent 35% of All Recipients

6. Pell Grant Program Growth
• Pell Grant Program Has Witnessed
Unprecedented Growth – Program Costs
doubled over last 3 years
• Pell Grants = 46% of the ED’s FY 10 Budget
• Growth Result of Congressional Actions,
Recession, Greater Demand
• Huge Shortfalls (Pell Funding Does Not Cover
Grant Commitments) – Pell as an “Appropriated
Entitlement”

7. Pell Grant Recipients
10,000,000
9,000,000
Recipients
8,000,000 up in
7,000,000 three years
6,000,000
5,000,000
Total
4,000,000
Community College
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
0

8. Pell Grant Program Growth –
Congressional Actions Adding Cost
• CCRAA (September ‘07) Mandatory Increases to
Maximum Grant Funded by Cuts to Loan Subsidies;
Increased Income Protection Allowances (IPAs)
• Higher Education Act Reauthorization (HEOA, August
‘08) Increased ATB Eligibility
• ARRA (Stimulus Bill – February ‘09) Increased Maximum
Grant by $500 for FYs 09 and 10, Provided Additional
Funding
• SAFRA (March ‘10) Provided Annual Mandatory
Increases, Funded Shortfall, Increased IPAs

9. Politics and Funding Landscape
• Pell Grant Program’s Extraordinary Growth Has Drawn
High‐Pitched, Bipartisan Concern
• Political Support for Pell Grant Program Has Changed
• Several Members of Congress Have Questioned
Program Costs
• Negative Comments from Some Congressional Leaders
• Both Parties Seeking to Reduce Program Costs through
Eligibility Changes
• FY 2011 Appropriations (April ‘11) Eliminated Year‐Round
or ‘Summer Pell’ to Maintain the Pell Max at $5,550

10. Politics and Funding Landscape
• The Public Still Strongly Supports Education
Funding
• Education Funding Is Just 3% of Federal Budget
• Many Families Concerned With How to Afford
Higher Education
• Public Interested in Deficit Reduction

11. FY 2012 Funding Status
• FY 2012 Congressional Budget Will Not Be Enacted –
Appropriations Remain Focus
• Obama’s FY 12 Budget (Feb. ‘11) Preserved $5,550 Pell Max by
Eliminating Summer Pell and Making Other Changes to
Student Aid Programs to Achieve Savings
• House‐Passed FY 12 (“Ryan”) Budget Resolution Assumes
Major Reductions in Pell Grant Program ‐‐ $3,150 max
• House FY 12 Labor‐HHS‐ED Allocation $18 Billion below FY 11;
$7 Billion Below H.R. 1; At FY 2004 Funding Level (Excluding
Inflation); Does NOT Address $11.2 Billion Pell Shortfall
• House Subcommittee Action Scheduled for Late July – Pell
Grant Program Cuts Likely

12. FY 2012 Appropriations
• Federal Funding Environment Has Changed; FY 2012
Appropriations Process Will Be Complicated, High‐Profile,
Drawn Out, and Politically Charged
• July To Be Crucial Month: Debt Ceiling Increase,
Appropriations Implications, and Long‐term Cuts
• Large Cost of Pell Puts Downward Pressure on Funding
for Other Programs
• Advocacy Can Make a Difference in Congress, Elevating
Pell Grants and Student Aid as Priorities

13. Community College Grassroots Advocacy
• AACC and ACCT Urge Action to Support the $5,550 Pell Grant
Maximum and Keeping Pell Grants Whole in FY 2012
• Immediate Contacts to Members of Congress Needed
• Board Resolutions (copies to AACC and ACCT)
• Op‐Eds and Media Coverage
• Engaging Students in the Campaign to Save Pell Grants
• Announcing New AACC‐ACCT Pell Grant Action Center Website
www.pellgrantactioncenter.org

14. Questions & Comments

15. Contact Information
• David Baime
dbaime@aacc.nche.edu
• Jee Hang Lee
jhlee@acct.org