Pennsylvania provides financial aid for eligible children of veterans for higher education – Audacy

Report on Pennsylvania’s Educational Gratuity Program and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Program Overview

The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) is administering the Educational Gratuity Program to provide financial assistance for higher education. This initiative is designed to support the children of veterans who have been significantly impacted by their military service.

• Objective: To alleviate the financial burden of higher education for children of eligible veterans, thereby promoting educational attainment.
• Financial Support: The program provides up to $4,000 per child, which can be disbursed at a rate of $500 per term for up to eight terms.
• Scope: Funds can be applied to a wide range of approved institutions within Pennsylvania, including colleges, trade schools, and apprenticeships.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Educational Gratuity Program makes significant contributions to several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

• SDG 4: Quality Education
  • The program directly advances this goal by ensuring inclusive and equitable access to tertiary education for a specific demographic. By providing financial aid, it removes a critical barrier, allowing children of disabled or deceased veterans to pursue higher learning and vocational training.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
  • This initiative targets a group that may face socioeconomic disadvantages due to a parent’s service-related disability or death. By offering educational grants, the program works to reduce inequalities in opportunity, ensuring these children are not prevented from achieving their educational potential due to family circumstances.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • By facilitating access to post-secondary education and skills training, the program equips beneficiaries with the qualifications needed for decent work. This investment in human capital supports the development of a skilled workforce, which is essential for sustained and inclusive economic growth.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the Educational Gratuity Program, applicants must meet the following conditions:

1. Be the child of an honorably discharged veteran who served during a period of war or armed conflict and has a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability.
2. Alternatively, be the child of a veteran who died in service during a period of war or armed conflict.
3. Be between the ages of 16 and 23.
4. Have been a resident of Pennsylvania for five years prior to the application date.
5. Be enrolled in an approved school or training program within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Application and Documentation Requirements

Prospective applicants must contact their local County Director of Veterans Affairs to apply. The following documentation is generally required:

• A copy of the sponsoring veteran’s last military service DD214 or Military Death Certificate.
• The applicant’s birth certificate.
• Proof of identification, such as a driver’s license or voter registration card.
• Proof of Pennsylvania residency for the last five years.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article on the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs’ (DMVA) Educational Gratuity Program connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on providing financial assistance for higher education to a specific group of students.

   • SDG 4: Quality Education

     This is the most direct SDG addressed. The program’s core purpose is to “allow their children to receive higher education” by alleviating the “financial burden families face.” It explicitly supports access to post-secondary education, which is a key component of quality education.

   • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

     The program targets a specific demographic: “children of honorably discharged wartime veterans who have service-connected total and permanent disability or children of veterans who died in service.” By providing financial aid to this group, the program aims to reduce inequalities in educational opportunities that may arise from their family’s circumstances, ensuring that finances are not a barrier to advancement.

   • SDG 1: No Poverty

     The article mentions that the grants “can help to alleviate the financial burden families face.” By providing financial support for education, the program acts as a social protection measure, preventing educational costs from pushing vulnerable families further into poverty and improving the long-term economic prospects of the children, thereby contributing to poverty reduction.

   • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

     The program supports education in “colleges, trade schools and apprenticeships,” which equips young people with the skills and qualifications needed for better employment opportunities. By helping youth between the ages of 16 and 23 to advance their education, the initiative contributes to developing a skilled workforce, which is essential for decent work and sustainable economic growth.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the program’s objectives and target audience described in the article, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

   • Target 4.3: Ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.

     The article directly supports this target by offering financial assistance for “higher education,” which includes “colleges, trade schools and apprenticeships.” The program’s goal is to make this education more affordable and accessible for the children of eligible veterans.

   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… disability… or other status.

     The program specifically targets children whose parents are veterans with a “total and permanent disability” or who “died in service.” This is a clear effort to promote the social and economic inclusion of a specific group defined by their “other status” (family of disabled or deceased veterans) by removing financial barriers to their educational advancement.

   • Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all… and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.

     The Educational Gratuity Program can be seen as a social protection measure for a vulnerable group—the families of disabled or deceased veterans. The article highlights this by stating, “Your sacrifice has been immense and this is one way for Pennsylvania to show its continued support of your family.”

   • Target 8.6: By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.

     The program is specifically for children “between the ages of 16 and 23,” a key demographic for this target. By providing financial incentives to pursue higher education or vocational training, the program directly works to reduce the number of youths in this age bracket who might otherwise not be in education or training due to financial constraints.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   The article does not mention official SDG indicators, but it provides specific details about the program that can be used as practical, implied indicators to measure progress.

   • Indicator for Target 4.3:

     The article states that “up to $4,000 per child” or “$500 across eight terms can be awarded.” An implied indicator would be the total amount of financial aid disbursed through the Educational Gratuity Program or the number of students receiving financial aid to attend tertiary, technical, or vocational education.

   • Indicator for Target 10.2:

     The eligibility criteria are very specific. Therefore, a direct indicator is the number of children of veterans with service-connected disabilities or who died in service who are enrolled in the program. This measures the program’s success in reaching and including its target group.

   • Indicator for Target 1.3:

     Progress can be measured by the number of eligible families or children covered by the educational grant program. This would track the coverage of this specific social protection measure among the vulnerable population it aims to serve.

   • Indicator for Target 8.6:

     The program targets youth aged 16 to 23. An implied indicator is the number of young people (aged 16-23) participating in post-secondary education or training through this program. This directly measures the program’s contribution to keeping youth engaged in education.

Summary of Findings

Source: audacy.com