Pell Grants now available for students in summer

Low-income students at public and private colleges and universities soon will have access to a federal aid programfor classes they take during the summer term.

The Pell Grant, the largest source of federal grant aid, will be available for use during the summer for the first time since 2011. Federal policies allow students to use Pell Grants starting today.

Valencia College and Seminole State College leaders say having access to Pell Grants will help students from the poor est homes afford summer classes.

“Those are the neediest students, if they’re Pell eligible, so it’s quite possible they would not be able to go during the summer,” said Roseann Amato, Seminole State directorof student financial resources. “At the very least, theywould have to take on additional debt. Thisway, theywon’t.”

Skipping summer classes can slow down students, or in some cases, derail them fromearning degrees.

The U.S. Department of Education stopped distributing Pell Grants during the summer term in 2011 in part because of the increasing demand for the money. Allowing students to use themoneyonly during the traditional yearwas one of several “tough choices” intended to keep the program financially sustainable.

But Congress agreed earlier this year to allow students to use the grants during the summer in hopes more studentswould complete college. About 9 percent of students from families in the lowest-earning 25 percent earn a bachelor’s degree by age 24 compared with 77 percent of students from the highest 25 percent of families, according to a 2015 report from the University of Pennsylvania.

Nationally, about 7.8 million students received $28 billion in Pell Grants during the 2016-17 school year.

Students with financial need are eligible for Pell Grants for their first bachelor’s degree. Need is determined by a variety of factors, including family income and household size.

If they take summer classes, the change will allow students to receive as much as $8,880 during the 2017-18 school year.

Federal policies allow students to use Pell Grants starting today.