In this Point of View article published on December 24, 2004, CCRC Director Thomas Bailey and Associate Director James Jacobs describe how Pell Grants provide vital financial assistance to students across the country.

Throughout his campaign, President Bush prominently supported community colleges as a cornerstone in his education platform. The achievement of community-college students translates into a better trained and educated work force and thus broader success for the U.S. economy. Without access and achievement in postsecondary education, the work force of today and tomorrow will not gain the necessary skills to fully participate in Bush's "ownership society." But legislation recently signed by Bush places in jeopardy that important opportunity for many community-college students.

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