Education Report

Education

There are many definition of education but in a simple way education is an act or process of passing on or gaining general knowledge, building the ability to reason and judge, and generally training oneself or others mentally for matured life.

Many underdeveloped countries today do not pay attention to the importance of education in the society and this has made most countries not to be developed. I ask myself what advantage it will be if most of these underdeveloped countries have people in the government who are well educated and if they could give proper attention to the education sector of the country in order for the youth to develop and be able to reposition the country as they are been called leaders of tomorrow.

It is well known that education leads to success and I will be discussing the importance of education and why I think education is the backbone of anybody that needs to change the world in a positive way.

Education can never be underestimated as education forms the heart of any society. The knowledge of making new discoveries, executing these discoveries for the success of any society can be achieved through education. The growth of many developed countries today can be attributed to the quality of education that is been imparted to the people. People who have quality education are able to improve the society by making reforms that will cause economic, social and political growth and development of the society.

Education opens your mind to better understand the world around you and how things works. Learning the different cultures and happenings taking place at different places around the world is possible through education. Our horizons are been broaden through education so that we can not only confined to what is happening in our countries but what is happening around the world.

Good jobs today are given to well educated people, this was stressed in the words of the United State President Barrack Obama, when he said “In an economy where knowledge is the most valuable commodity a person and a country have to offer, the best jobs will go to the best educated- whether they live in the United States or India or China”. This statement shows the importance of education in getting the best jobs in the society and holding the best positions in companies.
Education helps you to have confidence in life. You are able to plan your life effectively when you have education as it will help to analyze problems of life and be able to come out with solutions to those problems that you might face. Educated people are able to make decisions that can change life in a positive ways as they will have acquire alot of experience as they learn new things every day.

The importance of education is well evident in developed countries as it play a major role in personal and social development. Education has been used as a means to alleviate poverty, oppression, and war as the leaders are well equipped with knowledge to guide the country towards growth.

In some countries, there has been problem of overpopulation which is one of the greatest worry of mankind. Overpopulation can be attributed to lack of proper and better education. Sex education needs to be taught to the youths who are adult of tomorrow.

Financial growth in one’s life can be achieved through education. Instructions on how to manage money and invest the money wisely can be achieved when you have good education as you are well knowledgeable on the ways to start your own business and reducing the risk of getting bankrupt.

Education has been used as a major tool to inform people of their rights and services that they can have access to. In order to be able to differentiate between doing the right and wrong, education plays a vital role as youth are been taught what ought to be done and what not to be done in the society and how they can be a responsible person in the society.

Lastly, children from their early age needs to understand the importance of education. This will help them have open minds and be able to have the determination to learn new things as their brain are able to assimilate new things when they are young.

More of my articles are on http://hubpages.com/hub/Educationn
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Broadcast/pro Video Camcorder Report
Better digital capture and multiple formats will be some of the strongest forces that drive the broadcast / pro video camcorder market in the next several years. No doubt, mini DV, HDCAM and DVCPRO will continue to battle it out for market share among pro camcorders. Regarding camcorder formats, DVCPRO will likely garner more favor as will 24p HD capture.

Above is just part of the future forecast for the broadcast / pro video camcorder market size data and market share report. The full Broadcast/Pro Video Camcorder Report provides quantitative data that is based on extensive annual primary research surveys starting in 1984 of broadcast and pro video facilities in each of the following end-user vertical markets: cable television stations, broadcast television stations, post production facilities (video and film), video production and multimedia facilities, corporate and institutional video facilities such as government video, medical video, educational video.

The quantitative market size data tables for past year, current year, forecast for next year show total number of end-user facilities, total market size in dollars spent purchasing camcorders, total camcorder units purchased, average number of camcorder units purchased per end-user facility, total number and percentage purchasing camcorders by year, and average price per camcorder. This market size data is displayed for each of the six vertical end-user markets as well as for the total across the board broadcast / pro video marketplace.

In addition, charts and tables show total camcorder units by format, by price range and by market share of the leading brands.

The approximately 10 page broadcast / pro video camcorder market report commences with a detailed written report of the total market as well as of each individual vertical end-user markets. It brings the quantitative market size data tables and charts to life with insightful market analysis and market forecasts. Following the written market analysis are the quantitative market size and market share data tables and charts.

For more information, please contact :
http://www.aarkstore.com/reports/Broadcast-Pro-Video-Camcorder-Report-2066.html

Jessica
Aarkstore Enterprise
Mobile : +918149852585

Personal Computer have changed the people life. And every person have a PC in their home in a normal family. And my opinion every one need a PC. But due the the huge amount of use of the energy due to the Computer in huge sector, the energy consumed is growing day by day. And there must be some solution to this problem. If the huge computer can be made to work in low power available then we can managed the energy saving and bring a revolution in the world.

After some research we found that green pc has been introduced by some people around the world and has been a great success. It has a saying that its energy costs reduced 60% of the current energy consumption. So a Low Power PC can be a great revolution for the people and countries.

Its not just about the power consumption, but they are also the cheapest found on market. If people are really concious about the energy and the money then, I suggest people surely should get a one. I have order a piece for myself, as every good things should be started from ownself.

Save energy, Save world – Go green.

Benefits Of Online Education Courses
Since obtaining an education is normally completed in the traditional way, most of the people still find it a surprise to know that they’re able to get an online education. We naturally think that only the more exciting people would settle for this. Whether online or not, every one of us need to have a college education to ensure a better future for us.

In the olden times, parents would certainly break their back seeking to send their children to school. Despite this, it was still unattainable for most. The cost was tremendous to be able to send their kids to school. Often, these kids ended up with unfinished degrees.

Quite a lot of parents still end up with having an identical situation. Circumstances permitting, some parents prefer that their kids work rather than going to school. That is where online education steps in. Because of this type of education, people who find themselves capable could work and study too.

When there is little time and a lot more sacrifices involved, online education lessons are usually customized to suit the learner’s needs and time schedule. One can enjoy the day time job and pursue his training at nighttime online.

This is also best for young mothers who would like to pursue education even with the duties at home. This allows her to get education of a higher degree without missing out on her jobs at home. Mothers would really appreciate the opportunity to widen their horizons but still have the ability to enjoy her home schedule.

People consider this to be more affordable as well. There are no unnecessary fees for transportation, additional textbooks, or even day care service fees that a father or mother must pay while in school. Online education sets you free from travel and daycare stress.

As well as its practicality, people love that you can be relaxed and comfortable while you go to college and study. It can be both relaxing, and practical. Education is easier this way. Why wouldn’t you want to go to school in your pajamas everyday? Earn your degree while lying in bed and eating breakfast.

They say the effectiveness of this type of education is subjective. However, recent reports have shown that an excellent education proves to be a better remedy for someone who has to work while they’re going to school. This system enables them to be successful in all areas of life from career, family and finances.

Education Linked to Better Health

While more education is no guarantee of anything these days, there is one area where more schooling has been shown to offer a benefit. And that is education linked to your own personal health. A new report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Commission to Build a Healthier America finds that those with more education report better health than those with less education.

In every state, adults with less education are more likely to rate their health as less than very good, as opposed to those adults who’ve graduated from college. The Commission looked at data from the U.S. Census Bureau as well as Centers for Disease Control surveys done between 2005 and 2007 where over 174,000 adults from 25-74 rated their own health as either excellent, very good, good, fair or poor. This is the first attempt at ranking U.S. states based on reports of health and education achieved.

According to the findings, the more education a person has, regardless of ethnicity or race, the more likely they were to report better health.

Overall, 45% of the survey respondents rated their health as less than very good, with those who hadn’t graduated from high school being 2.5 times more likely to be in less than very good health as were graduates from college. High school graduates, who did not receive college education, are almost twice as likely to be in less than very good health as adults who had graduated from college.

Even a few years of education was enough to make a difference in how healthy a person believed themselves to be. And though disparity in education level and reported health status exists in every state, there are some places where it’s particularly strong.

In Mississippi for example, 73% of high school dropouts reported their health as less than very good, while only 37% of the state’s college graduates did the same.

California is another state with a large gap in numbers between less and more educated citizens. This report adds to the growing body of evidence that social factors (like education) do have an impact on health. The Commission is convinced there’s more to staying healthy than focusing on health care. Education, income and other factors aside from things considered by traditional medicine may also help determine how healthy someone is, and how long they might live.

Less education often leads to fewer job opportunities, lower incomes and lots more financial stress. What jobs there are less likely to offer health insurance, so less educated workers will naturally put off preventative care. Sick days in these jobs are more likely to be unpaid, so less educated workers force themselves to go in because they just can’t afford to stay home. And speaking of homes, those with less income have much more limited choices and may be forced to live in an unhealthy home or a neighborhood with more potential risks.

If you have more education your job prospects are probably better, the pay and benefits allowing for you to attend to your health, and the health of your children. You get paid if you stay home sick. Your doctor may take you more seriously, and you’re better able to be your own advocate in terms of care and treatment options. What’s more, you have many more choices in terms of where you live and how you live, your home is more apt to be well constructed and in a safe area.

The Commission has made a point to offer ten recommendations to Americans for improving their health that are based on two ideas, that people need to make healthier choices for themselves and their families, and society needs to remove obstacles and promote opportunities to help people make these types of choices. Until these goals are reached, all of us will keep falling far below the level of good health we might have.

2010 Report On Alzheimer’s Disease

A 2010 report about the facts and figures of Alzheimer’s Disease which has just been released recently by the Alzheimer’s Association showed that 5,3 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. The rate seems to be increasing while that of other dangerous diseases is declining significantly. Alzheimer is now one of seven leading dangerous disease in America as it can kill patients.

Alzheimer and dementia patients are often those who user health care, long-term care and hospice.

The amount used for these services is estimated about 2 billion in annual costs, among which Medicare and Medicaid count up to 3 billion.

The report says that by 2029, 70 million people aged 65 and older will have this disease. This number of people is forecasted to affect greatly on the U.S. health care system. Moreover, health, employment, income and financial security of their families and caregivers will also be influenced. An estimate of 2009 said that about 10.9 million family members and friends did not pay care for a person with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia.

A special report on ethnicity and Alzheimer’s disease is also mentioned in the newly report of the association.

Accordingly, there is a likelihood that older African-Americans tend to have Alzheimer’s disease two times more than older whites. Meanwhile, older whites are one and one-half times less likely than older Hispanics to have such conditions. Alzheimer’s disease and dementia often result in high blood pressure and diabetes.

The report also said that people who do not have chance to further their education tend to have these conditions easier. Researchers say that people with higher education possess a “Cognitive reserve” which means that they can recompense for symptoms of Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

Another thing that notified in the report is that Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias may likely attack women than men. As women can have higher life expectancy than men, older women tend to have these conditions. The percentage of dementia among women and men are 20 and 17 respectively.

The “2010 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures” includes data on prevalence, mortality, cost of Alzheimer care, care giving, and special report on race, ethnicity and Alzheimer’s disease.

Online Education Portal: Redefining Education in the New Age

An online education portal is not only the most modern private tutor, but also so much more. They offer humongous amount of features and learning tools that would even put most schools to shame. The benefits of using them are endless, but we shall discuss just a few key attributes of an online portal here – video lessons, study material, exam resources and online test.

Video Lessons: The typical online education portal is loaded with video lessons that extensively use animations, lab demonstrations and real world illustrations that create a lasting impression on the mind. Video lessons, therefore, make you understand concepts far more effectively and they equip you to take on the challenges of your exams. Spending just half an hour each day watching video lessons that focuses on simplifying complex theories and concepts and quick methods of solving numerical problems should be enough for most students to improve their grades!

Study Material: A good education portal will also provide you with study material that will save you the time you would otherwise spend on making notes yourself.

The study material is intelligently prepared references that will help you understand concepts better. They are often written by experts who have deep subject knowledge and experience in the field of teaching. Study material on any online portal can be used as an accompaniment to the video lessons they offer too, making your learning process all the more convenient and effective.

Online Test: Like the dreaded Monday tests in your school, an education portal will have an online test that you can take to analyze your learning process. The online test is meticulously designed to effectively check concept clarity, with personalized reports that mainly focuses on important things like overall performance, question-wise execution and remedies that seek to identify current proficiency levels and topics of concern. Based on your online test performance, you will be offered smart pointers to help you improve your overall score. They are also typically designed to guide you towards the best interactive learning resources that will help you master even your weak areas.

Exam Resources: A good online education portal will also act as a one-stop destination for sample papers, solved question papers and unit wise revision materials. They are consistently featured to help you revisit all the crucial concepts and formulae before the exams so that you can score more marks and top them. There are many other features that an online Education Portal possesses, so go find them out for yourself. Good luck!

Obtaining an Online Journalism Education

When looking to pursue a career in journalism you can gain the necessary education by enrolling in an accredited online educational training program. Training to work in the filed of journalism will give you the opportunity to enter into an exciting career. Education is possible through online schools and colleges, and will allow for leisurely study from the comfort of your own home. Obtaining a variety of degrees can be done by completing the required educational requirements in a number of specialized areas.

*Freelance Writing

Gaining an accredited online education in freelance writing can be done through a variety of schools and colleges. You can prepare for the career you wish to enter by completing all required coursework and training in this area. Coursework may include nonfiction, professional writing, fiction, marketing and sales, business writing, and much more.

Coursework will help prepare you for an associate level degree in this career field. With an accredited online education you will be able to seek employment in a number of areas. Training will provide you with the skills needed to work for:
advertising agencies
magazines
newspapers
publishing companies

…and much more. Obtaining an accredited online education in this area of the field will open up a number of exciting career options for you to pursue.

*Journalism

You can pursue an accredited education in journalism by enrolling in an online school or colleges. Training can be completed at various levels including associate, bachelor, and master degree levels. You can prepare for your desired career by choosing to online degree program you need to enter into the career you long for.

Training can include a variety of subjects that will reflect your desired career. Coursework may cover subjects such as news editing, reporting, media writing, article writing, proofreading, and many other related courses. Studies in these areas will give you the knowledge and skills you need to enter into your desired career. Career possibilities can include working as:
newscasters
editor
public relations specialist
magazine reporter

…and a number of other professionals. When you choose to pursue an accredited online education in this field you can expect to obtain the quality education you need for a successful career.

By choosing to pursue a career in journalism you will be able to seek employment directly after graduation once you’ve completed courses in technical writing, editing, reporting, and more. Higher educational training will also help you prepare for work in media communications and other related areas that incorporate journalism techniques into careers. You can start by finding a program that meets your needs and enroll today.

By obtaining an accredited online degree in journalism from an educational training program you can receive the best quality education available. Entering into the field can give you the career you dream of. Agencies like the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) are approved to provide full accreditation to qualifying online programs. You can make sure your desired education and career will be of quality when you ensure that the school or college you choose is fully accredited. You can start by researching programs and finding the one that best fits your individual career goals and enrolling today.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERIC OUTLINE and may or may not depict precise methods, courses and/or focuses related to ANY ONE specific school(s) that may or may not be advertised on PETAP.org.

Copyright 2010 – All rights reserved by PETAP.org.

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Classroom Teacher As Teacher Educator

The culture of schools historically isolates the teacher in the classroom. The desire for increased and varied responsibility within the teaching field has traditionally been accomplished by leaving the classroom and advancing into an administrative role. That, however, is not always the desire of the career teacher. Opportunities to expand the teaching role while remaining a classroom teacher are achievable through a staff development program that recognizes adult learning and development stages and capitalizes upon the classroom teacher as a teacher educator. This concept is recognized and supported through career stage development activities advocated in various reform reports including the Holmes Group report, “Tomorrow’s Teachers” and the Carnegie Task Force report, “A Nation Prepared: Teachers for the 21st Century.”
COMPETENCIES AND ROLES
The classroom teacher who is a school-based teacher educator (SBTE) can be responsible for preservice, inservice, or continuing education at a school or district level, while maintaining a primary work location in the elementary or secondary classroom.

Teachers in this role have the potential for enhancing faculty morale by responding to both the professional and personal development needs of the faculty and by utilizing other teachers as resources within the designed program. Critical skills needed by the SBTE include interpersonal ease; group facilitation; educational content; initiative taking; rapport building; support, confrontation, collaboration, diagnosing, and demonstration abilities (Saxl, Lieberman, Miles, 1987).
The SBTE program possibilities are as broad or as narrow as the needs of the school, the school culture, and the developmental stages of the teachers. Teacher needs have been addressed most recently through the career lattice model. This model (Christensen, McDonnell, & Price, 1988) views a teacher’s career as moving within a cycle which includes the stages of “preservice,” “induction,” “competency building,” “enthusiastic and growing,” “career frustrations,” “stable and stagnant,” “career wind-down,” and “career exit.” These stages are dynamically influenced, either singularly or in combination, by personal environmental factors such as family demands, crises, cumulative experience, and individual dispositions; and by organizational environmental factors such as societal expectations, administrative style, regulations, and union guidelines. Collaborative planning between the SBTE and the administration, which recognizes the unique personal and institutional needs of teachers and the school, nurtures the total school culture.
Adapting and maintaining the following suggested guidelines contributes to the success of an SBTE program. First, the SBTE should be identified on the basis of competence (taking into account the skills needed) and not simply by position or years of teaching. Second, the SBTE should be familiar with or receive additional education in adult learning and development. Third, the SBTE should be familiar with the current research in teaching and related areas. Fourth, the administration should revise the job description of the SBTE to reflect the additional responsibilities added to the ongoing teaching schedule. Fifth, the administration should make arrangements for the SBTE to have needed time to prepare and deliver the agreed upon program. Sixth, the administration and the SBTE should recognize that use of additional, outside resource personnel (i.e., speakers, peer coaches) may be appropriate to implement the professional development program successfully (Wu, 1987).
SBTE MODELS
A wide range of programs which benefit from using the classroom teacher as teacher educator can be designed. The following descriptions illustrate four examples of SBTE programs.
Mentorship programs are rooted in the belief that adults have the capacity for continued growth and learning, and that this development can be influenced by specific types of interventions which both support and challenge (Levine, 1989). A mentor relationship supports the teacher who is new to the profession, district, building, grade level, or subject matter. The mentor, who must now articulate second-nature, unconscious teaching behaviors to another, brings these effective teaching skills to a renewed level of awareness. “This re-examination and reassessment, combined with the exposure to new ideas in subject matter pedagogy and effective teaching research often brought by the beginning teacher, stimulates professional growth on the part of the mentor as well” (Louchs-Horsley, Harding, Arbuckle, Murray, Dubea, & Williams, 1987, p. 90).
A Resident Supervisor’s Program has been initiated in the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) program at National-Louis University in Evanston, Illinois. This SBTE program provides alternative leadership roles and educational experiences for the classroom teacher selected as the resident supervisor. A permanent substitute assigned to the resident supervisor’s classroom assumes teaching responsibilities while the SBTE interacts with the cooperating teachers and the student teachers; attends college-based meetings; develops the supervision skills of the cooperating teachers; and assists in presentations to preservice teacher education classes. In addition to the regular district salary, the resident supervisor receives a small stipend per student and travel expenses for supervision and meetings (Christensen, 1989).
The Regional Staff Development Center supplements the professional development of the educational community of Kenosha and Racine counties in Wisconsin, and provides the classroom teacher with the specialized leadership roles of center associate, program coordinator, and mentor. A center associate is an experienced classroom teacher who takes a one-year leave of absence from the classroom to work full-time at the center monitoring on-going programs, developing group facilitation skills, writing grants, and producing a monthly newsletter. In addition, the associate identifies and facilitates the successful accomplishment of a self-chosen professional development plan which might include “national and/or regional conference participation, credit courses, team teaching with a college faculty member, supervising student teachers, [and] conducting research” (Letven & Klobuchar, 1990, p. 9). A program coordinator is a full-time classroom teacher who, for a stipend, organizes and facilitates the after-school networking activities of faculty members from local school districts and higher education institutions who share a discipline interest. Mentors serve to induct beginning teachers into the culture of the school and into the teaching profession, and receive pay or time trade-offs.
The Fort Worth Independent School District in Texas (Leggett & Hoyle, 1987) concluded that inservice follow-up through peer coaching would help teachers adopt new teaching behaviors and strategies. Sixteen mastery learning specialists, who continue to teach at least two classes per day, are responsible for workshop scheduling, arranging for substitute teachers, providing the peer coaching and other related training, monitoring the coaching process, and providing feedback within the coaching process. To transition peer coaching into an ongoing component of the everyday life of the school, the mastery learning specialist assists in forming permanent building-based coaching teams who “choose their own goals for coaching and who coach each other at regular, frequent intervals throughout the year” (p. 20).

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Understanding Education Tax Benefits and Incentives

For many parents it is has become very difficult to save for or pay for your child’s college education. Recognizing this, the federal government has stepped up its efforts to provide education tax benefits and incentives. While that is a good thing, understanding the myriad of education tax benefits and incentives out there can be frustrating and confusing to the average person. Lately, it seems every time you turn around there is some additional tax legislation in the area of education. Let’s review the various tax benefits and incentives available.

Hope Credit (American Opportunity Tax Credit)
Provides a tax credit for calendar years 2009 and 2010 of up to ,500 for undergraduates in school more than half time. It can be claimed for all four years of undergraduate study. The first ,000 of tuition costs and related fees (not room and board, however) are entitled to a 100% credit, while the next ,000 of tuition costs (not room and board, however) are entitled to a 25% credit. Once your tuition costs exceed ,000, there is no more Opportunity credit available. The credit is partially refundable. This means if you have no tax liability you are still eligible for a refundable credit of up to ,000. If you are married parents with income of more than 0,000 your credit is phased out. If you are single, the credit begins to phase out when income levels exceed ,000. This credit may be claimed by taxpayers who are subject to the dreaded alternative minimum tax, which is a good thing. You must reduce eligible education costs if you are receiving a scholarship, Pell grant, employer-provided educational assistance (tuition reimbursement) or distributions from 529 Plans.

Lifetime Learning Credit
Provides a nonrefundable tax credit of up to ,000 for undergraduate, graduate and other tuition-related costs incurred during the calendar year.

The first ,000 of tuition costs and related fees (not room and board, however) are eligible for a 20% credit. You cannot claim this credit if you are also claiming the Hope Tax Credit in the same year for the same college student (no double dipping). This credit phases out in 2009 when your income level exceeds 0,000 (marrieds) or ,000 (singles). You must reduce eligible education costs if you are receiving a scholarship, Pell grant, employer-provided educational assistance (tuition reimbursement) or distributions from 529 Plans.

529 College Savings Plans
When you contribute to a 529 Plan you do so with after tax dollars (net pay). The main tax benefit of 529 Plans is that earnings and gains are tax-deferred and if you make distributions from a 529 Plan to pay for qualified education expenses, then the earnings and gains are never taxed. One of the big advantages of 529 plans is that qualified education expense includes tuition, room and board. This means that even if your child gets a full scholarship for tuition, you can tap your 529 Plan to pay for his or her room and board. This is a big advantage over the Hope and Lifetime credits. You can contribute up to ,000 for each child. This is a gift tax restriction. Anyone can contribute to your child’s 529 plan. Are you reading this grandparents? Each plan has an owner (typically the parent or grandparent) and one beneficiary (typically your child or grandchild). There is a provision that allows an acceleration of up to five years worth of contributions, or up to ,000 in one year. This is an exception to the ,000 gift tax restriction. If you make this election, you must file a gift tax return in the year of the contribution, however, there is no gift tax due, under this exception. You must reduce eligible education costs if you are receiving a scholarship, Pell grant or employer-provided educational assistance (tuition reimbursement).

Coverdell IRAs
Allows a non-deductible contribution using after tax dollars (net pay). Distributions from a Coverdell IRA (aka Education IRAs) are not taxed if such distributions are made for qualified education expenses. Qualified education expenses include tuition, room and board. The main advantage of Coverdell IRAs is the flexibility. Distributions may be made for elementary school, high school and tutoring costs, in addition to college expenses. This tax benefit phases out in 2009 when your income level exceeds 0,000 (marrieds) or 0,000 (singles).

Education Deduction
For 2009, taxpayers may deduct up to ,000 in tuition and fees expenses as an above-the-line deduction (i.e. deduction from gross income). This deduction is available even if you do not itemize. The deduction is phased out when your income level exceeds 0,000 (marrieds) or ,000 (singles).

Student Loan Interest Deduction
Borrowers of federal and private education loans may deduct up to ,500 in interest as an above-the-line deduction (i.e. deduction from gross income). This deduction is available even if you do not itemize. Available for undergraduate or post-graduate program loans. The deduction is phased out when your income level exceeds 0,000 (marrieds) or ,000 (singles).

Roth IRA
Distributions of principal (not earnings/gains) from Roth IRA accounts, open for five years or more, can be used to fund all college costs without any tax consequences.

Traditional IRAs
Distributions made from Traditional IRAs by individuals under 59 1/2 are subject to income tax and a ten percent penalty, however, if the distributions are for college tuition and fees, then the ten percent penalty is waived.

Series I or EE Bonds
Earnings on Series I or EE bonds are exempt if the money from the bonds is used to pay college tuition and fees. The exemption from earning is phased out when your income level exceeds 4,900 (marrieds-2009) or ,950 (singles-2009).

Home Equity Loans
Money borrowed from home equity lines of credit or home equity term loans may be used to pay for all college costs. Interest on these loans is tax deductible on debt up to 0,000, but only for regular income tax purposes (not deductible for alternative minimum tax purposes).

Pell Grants
Pell Grants are outright gifts for undergraduate tuition costs. These grants are available only when the applicant can establish a financial need (“Financial Need” means you are at or near the poverty level) . Grants are capped at ,350 for 2009/2010.

Perkins Loans
Like the Pell Grant, the applicant must show a financial need to qualify. For undergraduate students, the maximum available under this program is ,000 per year. For graduate students, the maximum available under this program in ,000 per year. There is a ten year repayment term with a nine month grace period following graduation.

Subsidized Stafford Loans
Like the Pell Grants and the Perkins Loan programs, this is a financial needs-based program. The federal government pays interest while your child is in college or graduate school. There are maximum subsidized amounts that you may borrow each year of ,500 (Freshman), ,500 (Sophomore) and ,500 (Junior/Senior). Undergraduate cumulative subsidized loan amounts are capped at ,000 for dependent students and graduate cumulative subsidized loan amounts are capped at ,000. You may borrow an additional ,000 per year beyond the subsidized amounts, however, this ,000 is unsubsidized (meaning interest is not paid by the federal government on these amounts). You are required to file a FAFSA application under the Stafford Loan program to determine eligibility.

Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Interest on these loans is capitalized while the student is in school. There is a grace period for any payments on these loans that ends upon graduation. Interest rates are higher under the unsubsidized Stafford Loan program. You are required to file a FAFSA application under the Stafford Loan program to determine eligibility.

PLUS Loans
These are loans made by traditional lenders. These loans must be paid back even while the student is in school (no grace period) . Interest rates are significantly higher than under the Stafford Loan program. There are no earnings limits restricting your ability to borrow funds under the PLUS Loan program. The PLUS Loan is a federal student loan and therefore must be “certified” (approved) by the college’s or university’s financial aid office. If your college or university requires the FAFSA for all students, they will not certify a PLUS Loan (even though it’s a loan for the parents) without a FAFSA on file.

Employer-Provided Education Assistance (Tuition Reimbursement)
Reimbursements by employers for undergraduate or graduate school tuition and related fees are excluded from employee income (W-2) to the extent such reimbursements do not exceed ,250 per year.