Financial Aid - How Pell Grant Reform helps Single Mom's Get Back to School

There has been an awful lot of talk during 2009 about President Obama's education reform program, with a lot of focus on the Pell Grant reforms in particular.

The Pell Grant, a Federal scholarship program, has been reformed by President Obama with various aims in mind. Certainly decreasing the financial burdens of students is a principal aim, but, within the reform package, the measure aim to help a diverse group of aspiring students get in-or back-to school without incurring monumental levels of debt.

One group that has always struggled with school costs is single mothers. When you place the financial burden of school fees and text books on top of existing (and already taxing) family commitments like bills, rent and clothing, it is little wonder that many see the road to becoming a student as paved with debt, and decide against it. This is doubly discouraging for those that see education as a genuine means to improving their-and their children's future.

The Pell Grant reform, however, has come up with a number of new initiatives that aim to help single mothers take the step back into education. For one thing, the grant can now be used for online courses, a mode of study that makes sense to many busy single moms. It is also great news for those without childcare arrangements, as it enables the student to study at convenient rimes without disruption to the domestic routine. The Pell Grant is also free of the various restrictions attached to the other scholarships and grants associated with online study. Another incentive is that working mothers will be able to keep their jobs and still be eligible for the Pell Grant, breaking the either/or cycle.

In pure financial terms, the Pell Grant was also increased recently to $5,500, thereby covering tuition fees, whilst perhaps also leaving a little spare, always a blessing for those in straightened financial circumstances.

Of course, those looking to apply for the Pell Grant should also look at other scholarships and sources of funding, as this will increase the chances of securing a scholarship or loan. Searching online for various ways to get government grants is a great option as good financial aid is the key to a good college career.

If you're stuck and need some help finding good information online try using Financial-Aid-Directory.com for finding the latest information on financial aid to help you when you need it most.

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