At the beginning of his term, President Barack Obama asked for everyone in the U.S. to commit to a year of higher education; now he is trying to make that easier to do even in a tough economy. Obama encouraged the states to adjust their unemployment insurance programs to allow people to continue drawing benefits while going back to school. "The idea here is to fundamentally change our approach to unemployment in this country, so that it's no longer just a time to look for a new job, but is also a time to prepare yourself for a better job," Obama said in a speech not long after the government reported that unemployment had reached 8.9 percent, the highest level since late 1983. "That's what our unemployment system should be - not just a safety net, but a stepping stone to a new future. It should offer folks educational opportunities they wouldn't otherwise have," said the president. Another approach the administration is taking to encourage people to go to school is an increase in the maximum amount for Pell Grants for education, and also encouraging institutions to take into account a grant applicant's current financial situation when determining eligibility rather than only relying on their past year's income.  |