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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
19-302
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
September 19, 2012
To recognize the DC Tuition Assistance Program and the Higher Education Financial
Services staff in the Office of the State Superintendent of Education for their success in expanding access to higher education choices for college-bound residents of the District of Columbia.
WHEREAS, The DC Tuition Assistance Program (“DCTAG”) was created by Congress in 1999 by the District of Columbia College Access Act;
WHEREAS, the DCTAG expands higher education choices for District residents by providing grants of up to $10,000 toward the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition at public, 4-year colleges and universities throughout the United States, Guam, and Puerto Rico;
WHEREAS, the DCTAG also provides up to $2,500 per academic year toward tuition at private colleges in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, private historically black colleges and universities nationwide, and 2-year colleges nationwide;
WHEREAS, the DCTAG currently has students attending over 300 colleges and universities;
WHEREAS, the DCTAG program has provided direct support to students on their financial aid applications and processed the tuition payments for the college education of 18,077 District of Columbia students and, as of August 2012, has awarded $371.5 million in tuition support;
WHEREAS, in the past year, the Higher Education Financial Services (“HEFS”) team has greatly expanded both programs and funding to help District of Columbia students, particularly first-generation college students, prepare for a successful college experience and find funds to support this dream;
WHEREAS, this year, the HEFS staff has developed the first ever locally funded program to provide tuition support for District of Columbia residents attending District of Columbia colleges and universities and processed $1.2 million in grants for over 200 District of Columbia students in 5 weeks in August 2012;
WHEREAS, the HEFS staff has been responsible for the largest college fairs held in the District of Columbia metropolitan area, with its 6 College Fairs and one Smart College Choice Expo having exposed 35,723 students and parents to college opportunities nationwide;
WHEREAS, the HEFS staff held workshops, information sessions, and training sessions on postsecondary education and financial aid for another 13,000 parents and students annually through its partnerships with District of Columbia public, charter, and private schools as well as numerous District of Columbia community organizations; and
WHEREAS, the HEFS staff runs an Annual Financial Aid Conference open to all District of Columbia counselors and teachers advising and supporting college-bound District of Columbia students, which doubled in size in 2012.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “DCTAG Success Recognition Resolution of 2012”.
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes the success of the DCTAG program and commends the HEFS staff for their personal commitment and service to our students and families.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.
