The Senate last week approved, by a vote of 95-0, a long-stalled bill to reauthorize the Higher Education Act.
The measure, which was approved July 24, was largely similar to the bill approved by the Senate education committee in June. But it includes an amendment from Sen. Richard M. Burr, R-N.C., that would require colleges of education to set annual goals for increasing the number of teachers in shortage areas, including mathematics, science, special education, and English-as-a-second language.
The Senate also approved, by a vote of 78-18, a measure that would boost federal college-aid programs by more than $17 billion, mostly by trimming subsidies for student lenders.
Under the measure, which passed July 20, Pell Grants would increase to a maximum grant of $5,100 next year, and steadily rise to $5,400 by 2011. The maximum Pell Grant for the 2007-08 academic year will be $4,310.
In the House, the HEA renewal is pending before the Education and Labor Committee.
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