Webinar and Call for Questions on Ability to Benefit

Access to financial aid plays a huge role in the abilityof students to access, persist in, and complete postsecondary education, especially for those without a high school diploma or it´s equivalent. In December 2014, Congress partially restores de Ability to Benefit (ATB) provision of the Higher Education Act. Under this provision, students who do not have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent, but who are enrolled in eligible career pathways programs, may qualify for federal financial aid. In addition to participating in an eligible career pathways program, students wanting to qualify for aid need to pass an approved test or succesfully complete six hours of college credit. The partial ATB restoration provides a great opportunity for thousands of students who will now be able to pursue postsecondary education and training in community and technical colleges, or four-year colleges, and attain the credentials needed for career pathways programs need help  to gain access to resources and information.

The webinar will address the following questions:

• What is Ability to Benefit?
• Who is eligible for Ability to Benefit?
• What are the two primary ways to help students qualify for ATB and access financial aid for college pathways programs?
• What constitutes an ´´eligible´´ career pathway program?
• Where can one find the list of ABT tests that qualify students for ATB?