On the surface, it would seem as though something has changed in President Bush’s policies. Suddenly, higher education seems to be a greater priority.

Bush recently proposed legislation that would increase Pell Grants for the first time in 20 years – a proposal that, if approved, would give money that would not need to be repaid to students from low-income families.

Bush also proposed legislation that would raise the borrowing limit for college students. This would be both good and bad: Students would have more money to fund their education, but would also have more to repay after graduation.

It’s refreshing to know the president hasn’t forgotten – at least, politically – about America’s future, but much of the hype surrounding Bush’s new proposals are less appealing when the facts are examined.

Bush’s proposed education budget is the exact figure he proposed last year – $56 billion.

This means that though education may be getting more press, things aren’t any better than last year, and the same amount of money is just being disbursed differently.

Congress has taken issue with the size of the education budget, and is already in the process of approving a “continued resolution” that would devote $57.5 billion to education for this year.

It’s a different George W. Bush who has appeared since the Democratic Congress was sworn in January, one that must compromise and pay more attention to matters of education and environment, among other issues.

National education policy still needs reform, but Bush’s acknowledgement that students need more education funds is a step in the right direction.