Funding Eliminated for Civil Legal Attorney Assistance Repayment Program (CLAARP or CLAAP)
Although the continuing resolution approved by Congress in mid-April increased fiscal year 2011 discretionary spending for the United States Department of Education by $4.21 billion, that money won't be used to assist civil legal aid lawyers struggling with student loans. The increase is needed to maintain the $5,550 maximum Pell Grant for the 2011-12 award year. Discretionary funding for other education programs is $1.25 billion less than for fiscal year 2010. The Department of Ed released detailed program reductions and…
Increased Oversight of Tuition Assistance Program is Needed
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is calling for expanded education quality review procedures after auditing the Department of Defense’s (DOD) oversight of the Military Tuition Assistance Program. The Military Tuition Assistance Program provided $517 million in tuition assistance to approximately 377,000 service members in fiscal year 2009. These funds help service members pay for higher education. The GAO found that DOD review of the quality of academic courses and services was too narrow. Although 71% of the courses…
Civil Legal Aid Lawyers Not Likely to Get CLAAP Again
The Civil Legal Assistance Attorney loan repayment assistance program, affectionately referred to as CLAAP (or CLAARP), looks like it’s run its course. President Obama’s fiscal year 2012 federal budget request proposes eliminating this program, and many other discretionary spending programs. First funded in fiscal year 2010, CLAAP is authorized by the Higher Education Opportunity Act to provide up to $40,000 in loan forgiveness to civil legal aid lawyers. In its budget request, the administration indicates that because…
