When Pell Today Doesn't Mean Pell Tomorrow: The Challenge of Evaluating Aid Programs with Dynamic Eligibility
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| Title: | When Pell Today Doesn't Mean Pell Tomorrow: The Challenge of Evaluating Aid Programs with Dynamic Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Monnica Chan (ORCID |
| Source: | Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis. 2026 48(2):648-676. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 29 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | Institute of Education Sciences (ED) |
| Contract Number: | R305B150010 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Evaluative |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education Two Year Colleges |
| Descriptors: | Federal Aid, Grants, Student Financial Aid, Eligibility, Undergraduate Students, Public Colleges, Postsecondary Education, Two Year Colleges, Outcomes of Education, Universities, Program Evaluation |
| Geographic Terms: | Kentucky |
| Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: | Pell Grant Program |
| DOI: | 10.3102/01623737251357282 |
| ISSN: | 0162-3737 1935-1062 |
| Abstract: | Generally, need-based financial aid improves students' academic outcomes. However, the largest source of need-based grant aid in the United States, the Federal Pell Grant Program, has a mixed evaluation record. We assess the minimum Pell Grant in a regression discontinuity framework, using Kentucky administrative data. We focus on whether and how year-to-year changes in aid eligibility and interactions with other aid sources attenuate Pell's estimated effects on post-secondary outcomes for marginally Pell-eligible students. This evaluation complements past work by assessing explanations for null, negative, or muted impacts found in our analysis and other Pell evaluations. We also discuss the limitations of using regression discontinuity methods to evaluate Pell--or other interventions with dynamic eligibility criteria--with respect to generalizability and construct validity. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| IES Funded: | Yes |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1506018 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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