WHO: U.S. Department of Education WHAT: The program is giving millions in Pell Grants to undergraduates who flunk out or let their grades sag to the point that they should no longer be eligible. The Fresno Bee found that in just four central California counties in its coverage area, $13 million in grant money — or 10 percent of the total — went to students who failed, are failing or dropped out.
WHY IT’S AN OUTRAGE: The justification for this program, whose allocation Congress recently doubled to $30 billion, is that it helps bright students attend college despite a lack of financial means. By subsidizing failure, the Pell program is depriving more promising students of this opportunity. Even worse, the department doesn’t even keep statistics on how much is wasted this way.
WHERE TO VENT: Department of Education inspector general 202-245-6918.
