Pell Grant Increase Survives in CR; Teacher Standards Ruffle Some Groups

From Congressional Quarterly
By Lauren Smith

The White House persuaded lawmakers to include a large increase for Pell grants in a measure to keep the government running through March — but another provision on teacher qualifications has angered some education advocates.

The continuing resolution unveiled in the Senate on Dec. 19 would maintain a $5.7 billion increase in Pell grants, which provide tuition assistance for low-income college students. The Obama administration had sought to prevent a cut to the $5,550 maximum tuition grant.

The measure also includes a provision that would allow teachers still in training to be considered “highly qualified.” Under the federal No Child Left Behind education law, all students are supposed to have highly qualified teachers, and school officials must notify parents when their children’s teachers are not classified as such.