Top Priority: Education

by Mountainbread

If you want to be successful, getting a good education is a good start. Even before he became President, Barack Obama spoke about the need to make education a priority. Free money through grants and scholarships is only the beginning. College expenses continue to increase even as the economy slumps. Besides tuition and housing, fees for books, travel and eating are often not covered. Many potential students suffer and are unable to afford to go to college. Working, single mothers are particularly hit hard. Not only does educating mothers help provide for their families, but it also improves the workforce. It’s important to the President and that’s why he’s implemented a program for scholarships for mothers. Although they are the same, many people refer to Federal Pell grants as Obama grants. To help with university costs, a student can earn more than $ 5,000. The primary goal is to encourage single moms to return to school, and by 2012 they could receive as much as $ 5,400. With these grants for moms, they can pay for tuition, books or any other school-related expenses. Single moms should also consider the American Opportunity Tax Credit. With this tax credit, the first $ 4,000 of college expenses are free. The $ 4,000 grant is especially great for low-income students. Since many single working mothers have low incomes, these programs are a major help. There are almost no restrictions on where and what a student studies. With more incentives, more ambitious adults will realize their goal to get a college degree. Making more efforts to improve education opportunities is the best way for President Obama to show that he values them. The stimulus plan that passed has some provisions to make the college loan process easier. Preparing schools and students for success is an important Obama administration mission. Higher education at a 2-year college can be a great option, and there is emphasis being put on that fact. At a community college students can gain important knowledge as well as save money. In his 2007 Reclaiming the American Dream speech, Obama stated, “We need to put a college education within reach of every American. That’s the best investment we can make in our future.” President Obama has shown he is serious about action. Scholarships for moms are only a small part of the mission to help educate more people. If you’re a potential student who wants to make education a priority, there are many chances for you to do so.