| The Pell Grant is a form of student financial assistance provided by the federal government. Introduced in 1972, it has funneled billions of dollars in direct aid to millions of students who used these grants to offset the expense of continuing their education at postsecondary institutions throughout the nation. The program bears the name of its sponsor, Sen. Claiborne Pell of Rhode Island.; In this study, Pell's "idea" is traced from its origin, church/state financial support of the medieval universities in England and colonial America, through its 18th, 19th and 20th century legislative precedents, to its enactment in the Education Amendments of 1972. Particular attention is given to the previous landmarks of educational law: The Northwest Ordinance, The Morrill Land Grant College Act of 1862, and the G.I. Bill. An interview with Senator Pell, conducted by the author, provides insights into his intent, his efforts to secure the bill's passage and its results. The study concludes that the Pell Grant Program, which established the statutory right of a person to an education beyond high school, deserves to be distinguished as a landmark law in educational history. |
