The federal budget process directly shapes which resources are available to support students, classrooms, and schools. Federal funding streams, including Workforce Pell Grants and Title VII grant programs, are all determined through annual budget decisions made by Congress. Funding increases can expand services and access, while cuts can force programs to make tough trade-offs or lead to program elimination altogether.
Our nation is facing critical shortages in the healthcare workforce. While you, your teams, and your students are doing their part to fill those gaps, policymakers must do their part in addressing this crisis as well.
If you work in healthcare today, you know what the data shows: allied health professionals are the backbone of our system. They make up 60% of the U.S. healthcare workforce—over five million people—and directly shape patient access, care quality, and operational efficiency.
In a recent LinkedIn post, Kurt Burkum, Senior Director of Government Relations at Ascend Learning, shares his insights on the upcoming new Workforce Pell program. His post covers who this program will benefit, and what implementation will likely involve. This includes highlighting how Workforce Pell can support short-term, career-focused training for learners aiming to join the healthcare workforce.