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Annotated Bibliography

Author(s):	Johnstone, D. B
Title:	NDSFA: Fundamental assumptions and aims underlying the principles of federal financial aid to students
Source:	http://www.pathwaystocollege.net/webarticles/pd...
Date:	2003
Organization:
Short Description:	Fundamental assumptions and aims underlying the principles of federal financial aid to students.
Annotation:	Fundamental assumptions and aims underlying the principles of federal financial aid to students. In this analysis, Johnstone lays bare eight fundamental assumptions underlying the federal financial aid system, including the following: higher education is the province of the states; costs for higher education are appropriately shared by taxpayers, parents, students, and philanthropists; aid should be sufficient to bring higher-priced private education within reach for students whose parents have contributed up to a reasonable limit. Johnstone argues that the system is neither wrong nor broken, and asks reformers to resist the urge to fundamentally change it. The assumptions are not perfect, however; there are “stress points” in the assumptions that suggest possible changes, including the assumption of the ubiquitous parental contribution amidst an increase in non-nuclear families and the current trend towards merit-based rather than need-based aid.
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