Momentum Building for Pell Grant Expansion

With three different bills proposed that would allow students to use the Pell Grant for short-term programs of fewer than 15 weeks, the current minimum, momentum is building on the issue, and House lawmakers are beginning to talk about it informally. But muscling any legislation through this Congress will be difficult, advocates and lobbyists say. Key lawmakers involved in higher education policy want to see the Pell Grant, federal financial aid for low-income students, extended to job-training programs, and the issue has been a focus of House hearings this year. The Biden administration also has signaled its willingness to talk about the idea.