We've got a goal, let's get a plan

During the President's State of the Union Address on Tuesday January 25th, he said the future of America's jobs would require higher education. He went on to say, "America has fallen to ninth in the proportion of young people with a college degree." I admire the goal that higher education must be within the reach of every American, that by 2020 the President hopes America will be in the top ranked spot for college graduates. This is a great goal, but how are we going to get there? The $10,000 tax credit for four years is a great step, but only if the cost of tuition remains stable. The Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S Department of Higher Education, "ensures that all eligible individuals can benefit from federal assistance for education beyond high school" (federalstudenaid.edu.gov). This is where I have personally experienced a problem...to be eligible for federal aid, the figure is based off your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). I have been considered a dependent, even though I moved out before I was eighteen because my parent's house was foreclosed on. My parents have had to put their information on my FASFA, even though my mother has been unemployed since 2007 and my father has worked in a significantly lower position, to just have a job, since he was laid off for sixteen months. Yet somehow the EFC formula calculated my parents, that don't even have their own place to live, as contributing over $15,000 a year towards my education. My parents have not been able to help me, and despite countless communication to the school, my state legislation, and even the federal government I have not been heard. I think it is wonderful, the idea of the federal government helping support higher education endeavors. I just think as in the words of our President, "anything can be improved." We must make sure tuition costs are stable, that we understand private funding is decreasing and more students are expected to enroll, we must take strides to make sure the formulas for distributing funds don't cause more harm than good, and make sure we are making constant improvements to make the higher education system better for the people of the United States of America.