Maintenance of State Effort for Higher Education: 'Barriers to Equal Educational Opportunity in Addressing the Rising Costs of a College Education'

University of Illinois Press. 1325 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820-6903. Tel: 217-244-0626; Fax: 217-244-8082; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.press.uillinois.edu/journals

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9

Policymakers

Higher Education; Educational Finance; Paying for College; State Aid; Tax Effort; Equalization Aid; Federal Government; Role; Public Speaking; Advocacy; Educational Legislation; Educational Opportunities

0098-9495

A Maintenance of Effort (MOE) provision for higher education was first adopted in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 and was included as a requirement for states to participate in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The information in this article was presented before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor on November 1, 2007, supporting the enactment of the maintenance of effort statutory language. This article focuses on two distinct areas--both of which have significant ramifications for collegiate costs and equal opportunity--(1) accountability and transparency, and (2) college costs, state appropriations, and "maintenance of state tax effort." It describes the existing problems and then offers policy recommendations that would help remedy some of the primary concerns of taxpayers and policymakers. (Contains 1 figure.)

ERIC

2011

EJ926835