States Pay Less, College Costs Rise, Experts Say Tax Reform Could Help - Ayana Stewart, Scripps Howard Foundation Wire

The report, released Monday, said college tuition has steadily increased as a result of the recession and subsequent state funding cuts. A panel discussion at the center focused on ways to increase funding for higher education. David Bergeron, the center's vice president for higher education, said 38 states decreased direct funding to public colleges, on average by 8 percent from 2003 to 2010. Ted Mitchell, undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Education, said states need to provide “equitable and fair” funding to students. “We have called for a new compact between the state and federal governments to revitalize state funding in public colleges,” Bergeron said. The proposal says bipartisan tax reform could create $1.4 trillion in revenue, some of which could be used to pay for the grant program. http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/60217/