United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2008-05-01 monographic deposited born digital 46 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-717T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-717T P0b002ee18039f798 f:d08717t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-717T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-717T GAO-08-717T Aid for education Cost analysis Cost control Cost effectiveness analysis Direct loans Education or training costs Education program evaluation Educational grants Federal aid programs Federal grants Financial analysis Financial management Higher education Income taxes Program management Strategic planning Student financial aid Student loans Tax administration Taxes Taxpayers Program goals or objectives Program implementation Testimony A81940

Federal assistance helps students and families pay for postsecondary education through several policy tools--grant and loan programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and more recently enacted tax preferences. This testimony summarizes our 2005 report and provides updates on (1) how Title IV assistance compares to that provided through the tax code (2) the extent to which tax filers effectively use education tax preferences, (3) potential benefits and costs of simplifying federal student aid, and (4) what is known about the effectiveness of federal assistance. This hearing is an opportunity to consider whether changes should be made in the government's overall strategy for providing such assistance or to the individual programs and tax provisions that provide the assistance. This statement is based on updates to previously published GAO work and reviews of relevant literature. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-717T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-717T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-717T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-717T.pdf GAO-08-717T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-717T Testimony GAO-08-717T; Higher Education: Multiple Higher Education Tax Incentives Create Opportunities for Taxpayers to Make Costly Mistakes; Aid for education Cost analysis Cost control Cost effectiveness analysis Direct loans Education or training costs Education program evaluation Educational grants Federal aid programs Federal grants Financial analysis Financial management Higher education Income taxes Program management Strategic planning Student financial aid Student loans Tax administration Taxes Taxpayers Program goals or objectives Program implementation Title 26 Section 221(f) Title 26 Section 25A(h) 26 U.S.C. 221(f) 26 U.S.C. 25A(h) Volume 111 Page 788 111 Stat. 788 Volume 119 Page 2577 119 Stat. 2577 Volume 121 Page 784 121 Stat. 784 Public Law 105-34 Public Law 109-135 Public Law 110-84