State undermines its future by shortchanging higher education funding

College students and their parents who rely on publicly funded grants to help pay for higher education had better get a jump on their paperwork this year.

The U.S. Department of Education began accepting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid on Oct. 1 this year, three months earlier than previous years. All students who want financial aid need to complete the form, and students and parents will report 2015 income instead of the current year…Please click here to read Ted Slowik’s column in the Tribune/Daily Southtown.