Tens of thousands of students in California lost financial aid
In California, tens of thousands of students who are studying online outside the state have suddenly lost their right to receive federal financial assistance.
Disabled students became victims of a union attempt by the National Education Association to prevent Betsy DeVos, the head of the Department of Education, to postpone the entry into force of the Obama administration’s rules to protect the rights of students enrolled online in institutions located outside their state of residence.
DeVos warned that the states are not ready to apply these rules, but the union reflected its fears. The court took the side of the union, leaving students without financial assistance.
“We sought to delay implementation of the 2016 rule because of its many shortcomings, including for California students,” Education Department spokeswoman Liz Hill said.
“Unfortunately, the National Education Association filed a lawsuit and a judge ruled that we must implement the rule,” she added.
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The union, in turn, accused the department of a “vengeful maneuver” to punish its members, regardless of the cost to the students.
“The Department of Education's determination to harm students through incompetence or vindictiveness is unacceptable,” said Lily Eskelsen Garcia, president of the National Education Association.
“We remain committed to helping the Department implement protections in a manner that does not jeopardize critical student loans and grants,” she added.
The rules of the 2016 of the year, published in the last days of the Obama administration, were designed to help students who attend such courses avoid debt. However, the rules did not give any guarantees that these courses will provide students with work in those states where they live.
DeVos sought a reprieve, citing “widespread concern and confusion among higher education institutions” regarding these rules.
In April, a California District Judge in California ordered an Obama rule to take effect.
On Monday, July 22, the Department of Education issued a notice stating that California did not comply with the rule, and suspended financial assistance to approximately 80 000 students in the state who were enrolled in “distance learning” classes.
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California students enrolled in online colleges are subject to state law.
California officials have indicated that the suspension of financial assistance may not last long. Russ Hayrich, a spokesman for the California Agency for Business, Consumer Services and Housing, said the agency has created a complaints system that will meet the requirements of the department.
Without leaving it to chance, the American Board of Education, an association representing more 1700 college presidents, on Thursday, July 25, sent a letter to the department calling for emergency measures.
Noting the imminent start of the school year, the organization stated that its members are doing everything possible to help students who have already been enrolled in classes and have suddenly lost access to grants and federal student loans.
“In short, the likely result will be that thousands of students will either be forced to drop out or will not continue their education beyond high school,” the board wrote.
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