Letter to the Senate Finance Committee In Support of Expansion of Educational Opportunities in the TANF Welfare Reform Legislation

Eye on Washington

Letter to the Senate Finance Committee In Support of Expansion of Educational Opportunities in the TANF Welfare Reform Legislation

May 23, 2002

Dear Senator:

On behalf of the American Council on Education and the undersigned organizations, I write regarding the upcoming reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) legislation. We are grateful for the consideration and commitment many members of Congress have devoted toward renewing this measure that promotes self-sufficiency among the millions of welfare recipients across the country. We further believe that one of the surest ways to economic security and self-sufficiency for TANF recipients is through higher education.

The current TANF statute includes several features that significantly limit the educational opportunities of welfare recipients. Examples of these limiting provisions include: the allowance of only vocational education to count towards meeting the work requirement; the cap imposed on the percentage of recipients who can engage in educational activities and be counted in the work participation rate; the restriction on the time recipients are allowed to participate in vocational education activities; and the enforcement of strict work requirements that make it difficult for recipients to participate in postsecondary education.

We have many suggestions for modifying this legislation to make it flexible for states and welfare recipients. Our most significant recommendations are to:

Allow at least 24 months of education and/or training to be counted as an approved "work" activity;
Include all higher education programs, not just vocational training, in the list of education activities that can count towards a recipient's work requirement;
Eliminate the cap on the percentage of a state's TANF recipients who are able to participate in educational activities and count toward meeting the state work participation rate;
Allow time spent on education and training to not count against participantsí lifetime or consecutive benefit time limits.

We strongly urge you to consider these important changes, which will help welfare recipients gain the postsecondary education they need to become economically independent. While need-based federal student aid is essential to offset the cost of attendance at postsecondary institutions for low-income students, the federal needs-analysis formula fails to account for dependent expenses such as child care. The compounding effect of significant dependent expenses and the work hours currently required under TANF too often create an indomitable barrier to attaining postsecondary education. We hope this reauthorization will allow TANF to work more effectively with federal financial aid programs.

Thank you for your consideration of these recommendations. We strongly believe that these changes would not only enhance the lives of TANF beneficiaries, but would also lead our nation to strengthened economic development. We appreciate your commitment to TANF recipients and their attainment of economic independence, and look forward to working with you to expand access to education for TANF participants.

Sincerely,
David Ward
President, American Council on Education

On behalf of:
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
American Association of Community Colleges
American Association of State Colleges and Universities
American Council on Education
Association of Community College Trustees
Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities
National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education
National Association of College and University Business Officers
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
United States Student Association