DOWNEY - Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard visited East Middle School earlier this month where she urged students in the AVID program to "work hard in school and go on to attend college."AVID (Advancement Via Individualized Determination) consists of 53 seventh and eighth grade students who are preparing to take college preparation courses in high school. Most are first-generation students than plan to go to college. During the assembly, the congresswoman spoke about her background in public service and highlighted legislation that she championed to help low-income students afford college, including the passage into law last year of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. The law increases the maximum Pell Grant scholarship, strengthens community colleges and training programs, increases government college grant assistance and lowers monthly student loan payments for borrowers with modest incomes. "Making sure our young people have the ability to attend college or get career training is a critical step toward rebuilding the American economy and ensuring that our country's workforce remains strong and competitive for many years to come," she said.

********** Published: February 17, 2011 - Volume 9 - Issue 44