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Correction: Schools-Immigration Status-Glance

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

In a story May 8, The Associated Press, relying on information from the Education Department, incorrectly reported that 14 school districts were being investigated for possible violations under a Supreme Court ruling that children brought into the U.S. illegally are guaranteed the right to a public education. The Education Department said Friday that all but three of the complaints had been resolved.

A corrected version of the story is below:

Schools facing federal scrutiny on enrollment

Schools facing federal scrutiny on enrollment

By The Associated Press

Children brought into the U.S. illegally are guaranteed the right to a K-12 education under the 1982 Supreme Court decision Plyler v. Doe. In 2011 and again Thursday, the Obama administration issued guidance reminding schools, districts and states of their legal obligations from the ruling. The Education Department said it has received complaints against 14 different schools or districts since 2011. All but three of those complaints have been resolved, according to the department.

Here’s a list of the schools and districts and the status of the complaints:

Maricopa Community College District, Arizona(asterisk): Allegations resolved, case closed.

Douglas County Public Schools, Colorado: Allegations resolved, case closed.

Basis DC Public Charter School, District of Columbia: Agreement reached, department’s Office of Civil Rights monitoring.

Capital City Public Charter School, District of Columbia: Agreement reached, department’s Office of Civil Rights monitoring.

Jefferson Parish Public School System, Louisiana: Still under investigation.

Kentwood Public Schools, Michigan: Allegations resolved, case closed.

Kansas City USD 500, Kansas (four complaints): Agreement reached in three cases, department’s Office of Civil Rights monitoring. Complaint withdrawn in fourth case.

Oak Grove R-VI School District, Missouri: Allegations resolved, case closed.

Albuquerque Public Schools, New Mexico: Still under investigation.

Durham County School District, North Carolina: Allegations resolved, case closed.

Lancaster Fairfield Community School, Ohio: Case closed, technical assistance provided.

Bucyrus City School District, Ohio: Referred to Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, allegations resolved.

Beaufort County School District, South Carolina: Still under investigation.

Waynesboro County School Division, Virginia: Agreement reached, department’s Office of Civil Rights monitoring.

(asterisk)Complaint is from a charter high school the college operates.

Source: Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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