It makes no sense to cut almost 90,000 students off from Pell Grants, the biggest national scholarship for low-income students.

No one – not a person – can question the value of higher education for a student who picks that path. In today’s technological world, a college education is the very best indicator of financial success.

But changes in the way the government calculates who is eligible for the grants will freeze out 89,000 students and reduce the aid that another 1.3 million students can receive. The changes could save the government an estimated $300 million in the first year.

Money is tight for government programs. The war in Iraq and President Bush’s tax cuts have made sure of that.

The government spends a lot of money on Pell Grants, with some estimates suggesting the program could cost $12 billion this year alone.

Spending on education is an investment in the next generation. Society benefits when those students who are willing and able attend college, and expansion of those numbers should be a priority at every level of education.

The funding for Pell Grants should be restored. Poor and lower-income families face enough financial pressure without taking away part, or all, of the maximum grant of $4,000 a year that can help pay for college.