Dead on. There are already opportunities. For decades we’ve been told program after program is being created for “opportunities”, yet, we keep being told more program must be created. I thought the last unteen programs corrected the situation?
There is no age limit to getting a Pell Grant from the government, and the deadline for application is usually April for the same year of classes beginning in August, it is a ‘first come-first serve’ basis. I have never known anyone who qualified not getting money, if they met the deadline for application.
FAFSA ONLINE takes the applications, for those who do not want to go to the financial assistance office. The financial part is filled out using the last year’s Income Tax Form for an individual or for High School students, their parents last year Income Tax forms filed. So IRS Income Tax filings early help the person get their FAFSA application filed on time.
FAFSA looks for other grants or scholarships the student may qualify for, in my State there is a state grant for the poor that adds more money to helping with that year’s costs.
If the person gets good enough grades for a couple of years, it is possible to get into a nice university...and that year the grant will be used there, but costs are more and it does mean one either works part time, becomes a class assistant, or gets a student loan. Many ways to supplement the grant out there.
One thing that needs to be noted is that each year the student must apply again by the deadline for the next year (two semesters), and so on, until they finish their education. That is because income changes each year, and it is reflected on the 1041 (A?) etc. Income Tax Forms...which may or may not increase or decrease the amount of the Pell Grant.