A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

     FOR RELEASE                         Contact:  Jane Glickman (202) 401-1576      April 16, 1996                                Stephanie Babyak (202)401-1576

Ed Primer Offers Advice for the College-Bound

With more Americans than ever pursuing college or vocational technical training after high school to increase their career opportunities and earning power, there's a growing need for information on how to prepare for college and how to pay for it.

The 1996-97 edition of the U.S. Education Department publication Preparing Your Child for College: A Resource for Parents provides answers to some important questions: What high school courses are needed for college? What factors are important in selecting a college or technical training school? How much does college cost and how can students and their families obtain financial help?

"This book offers parents a step-by-step guide to help their children achieve their education goals," said U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley.

"This guidance -- together with President Clinton's education agenda to increase access to higher education -- can help make college education a reality for Americans from all walks of life."

President Clinton has made access to higher education a prime objective of his fiscal year 1997 budget, which calls for:

increased funding for the Federal Pell Grant program to serve an additional 155,000 students and to increase the maximum award from $2,340 to $2,700;
a $62 million increase for Federal Work Study to expand the number of students who earn some of their college costs from part time jobs, from 700,000 students to 1 million over the next five years.
a new merit based scholarship program to reward the top 5 percent of graduating students from every high school for academic excellence;
a $37 million increase to $500 million for the TRIO programs that prepare disadvantaged students to enter and complete postsecondary studies; and
preserving the freedom of choice for postsecondary schools to choose the Direct Loan or the Federal Family Education Loan program for financing students' education.

This third edition of Preparing Your Child for College offers long-range planning tips on academic preparation for students and financial planning for parents.

On academic preparation: the new edition discusses the benefits of Advanced Placement courses and exams to help prepare students for college-level work while they are still in high school. The handbook also highlights preparation for technical or "school-to-work" programs at community, junior, and technical colleges that offer students an opportunity to learn in real work settings.

On financial preparation: Preparing Your Child for College includes the latest information on college costs, savings programs, and potential sources of federal and other financial aid. Examples of financial aid packages cover scenarios at 2-year public, 4-year public, and 4-year private colleges.

Preparing Your Child for College is available free by writing Consumer Information Center, Department 593C, Pueblo, CO 81009.