Webinar and Call for Questions on Ability to Benefit

Hosted by JFF and CLASP 

**Be sure to Register EARLY - even if you can't make it you will receive the information**

Date and Time: Monday, Nov. 9, 2015 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. EST

Access to financial aid plays a huge role in the ability of students to access, persist in, and complete postsecondary education, especially for those without a high school diploma or its equivalent. In December 2014, Congress partially restored the Ability to Benefit (ATB) provision of the Higher Education Act. Under this provision, students who do not have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent, but who are enrolled in eligible career pathways programs, may qualify for federal financial aid. In addition to participating in an eligible career pathways program, students wanting to qualify for aid need to pass an approved test or successfully complete six hours of college credit. The partial ATB restoration provides a great opportunity for thousands of students who will now be able to pursue postsecondary education and training in community and technical colleges, or four-year colleges, and attain the credentials needed for careers in high-demand occupations. To benefit from the restoration, however, students in eligible career pathways programs need help to gain access to resources and information.

The webinar will address the following questions:

  • What is Ability to Benefit?
  • Who is eligible for Ability to Benefit?
  • What are the two primary ways to help students qualify for ATB and access financial aid for college pathways programs?
  • What constitutes an “eligible” career pathways program?
  • Where can one find the list of ABT tests that qualify students for ATB?

During the Nov. 9 webinar, staff from the U.S. Department of Education will provide guidance on how students can qualify. In addition, state and community college officials will share examples of how Ability to Benefit is being utilized to support low-income, underprepared students.

ED is asking webinar participants to submit by Nov. 1 any inquiries on which they would like ED’s guidance. To submit a question(s) please fill out this short survey. ED will review the inquiries in advance and respond to as many of them as possible during the webinar.

For more resources from Jobs for the Future about how to help underprepared students access and succeed in college, please visit http://www.jff.org/publications/earning-postsecondary-credentials.

For more background on Ability to Benefit, visit http://www.jff.org/initiatives/accelerating-opportunity/policy-update.

Presenters:

  • Mark Mitsui, deputy assistant secretary for Community Colleges, Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education;
  • Carney McCullough, director, Policy Development Group, Office of Postsecondary Education;
  • David Musser, policy liaison, Federal Student Aid;
  • Maria Flynn, senior vice president, Jobs for the Future;
  • Jon Kerr, director of Adult Basic Education, Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges; and
  • Derek Ball, financial aid officer at the Kentucky Community & Technical College System.

Facilitators:

  • Mary Clagett, program director, Jobs for the Future
  • Lauren E. Walizer, senior policy analyst, Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success, CLASP

Please be sure to register for the webinar by clicking here. Login information for the event will be sent out to registered attendees prior to the event.

 

If you have any questions, contact Lexie Waugh at awaugh@jff.org