Federal Updates

New consolidation forms approved by ED
ED released DCL FP-07-03, announcing the availability of the revised Federal Consolidation Loan Application and Promissory Note (Consolidation Loan Application). The revised form, which expires January 31, 2010, replaces the current version of the Consolidation Loan Application and the accompanying addendum.

TG Updates

TG to hold teleconference on barriers to higher education study
A Texas A&M University study, sponsored through a TG grant, shows that high school students need more information about applying to and paying for college to overcome barriers that keep many of them from college enrollment. TG is sponsoring a teleconference on March 21 for student financial aid professionals to present the specifics findings of the study. The teleconference, which is free, will be held from 1:30 - 3 p.m. (CDT).

2007 TG Conference offers third annual Financial Aid 4K and mystery dinner theater
This year's TG Conference offers a number of activities to keep participants busy outside regular conference hours. For the third year in a row, TG will hold its Financial Aid 4K on the shores of the Colorado River. The night before the 4K, all participants are invited to attend a special dinner, which combines awards with entertainment in the form of a murder mystery.

Spotlight on TG's Public Benefit Grant Program: Texas State University – San Marcos
Texas State University – San Marcos (Texas State) offers a new program geared to students from high schools in low socioeconomic communities. Funded by a grant from TG’s Public Benefit Grant Program, the program provides students — and their parents — a workshop in compelling essay-writing and resumé-building. Workshops are targeted for schools in the Rio Grande Valley, around Laredo, and throughout the Palestine-Tyler area.

How to make student debt management a campus-wide priority
As a financial aid professional, you understand how important effective debt management is for your students. In fact, it's probably one of your priorities. Getting your campus partners — admissions, student services, and alumni affairs, for example — to see it as one of their priorities may be a challenge.

Trends and Issues

Question of the week
I was recently approved for loan forgiveness under the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program; must I report the dollar amount forgiven as income for federal income tax purposes?

This, That, and the Other...

High school students nationwide are taking seemingly tougher courses and earning better grades, but their reading skills are not improving through the effort, according to two federal reports released Thursday that cite grade inflation as a possible explanation.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress, an exam commonly known as the nation's report card, found that the reading skills of 12th graders tested in 2005 were significantly worse than those of students in 1992, when a comparable test was first given, and essentially flat since students previously took the exam in 2002.

The test results also showed that the overwhelming majority of high school seniors have not fully mastered high-school-level math.

At the same time, however, grade-point averages have risen nationwide, according to a separate survey by the National Assessment. The survey considered the transcripts of 26,000 students and compared them with a study of students' coursework in 1990.

To learn about these two studies, read the complete New York Times article on the topic at www.nytimes.com/2007/02/23/education/23tests.html?ex=1173931200&en=dc668fa4a345eb0f&ei=5070.