{"id":36896,"date":"2018-02-07T18:56:39","date_gmt":"2018-02-07T18:56:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/02\/07\/more-mycaa-senate-bill-may-be-first-step-to-expand-popular-spouse-scholarship-program\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:16:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:16:16","slug":"more-mycaa-senate-bill-may-be-first-step-to-expand-popular-spouse-scholarship-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/pay-benefits\/mil-money\/2018\/02\/07\/more-mycaa-senate-bill-may-be-first-step-to-expand-popular-spouse-scholarship-program\/","title":{"rendered":"More MyCAA? Senate bill may be first step to expand popular spouse-scholarship program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A bill <\/b>introduced in the Senate on Tuesday could be the first step in expanding a popular spouse scholarship<\/a> program. <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proposal<\/a> by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., would require a study of the My Career Advancement Account, or MyCAA, scholarship program\u2019s usage. It\u2019s one of several provisions aimed at reducing unemployment among military spouses<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kaine staff members, speaking on background, told Military Times that MyCAA expansion is a goal of the bill, even though such an expansion isn\u2019t specifically stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

MyCAA provides scholarship assistance for civilian spouses of active-duty members in paygrades E-1 to E-5, W-1 and W-2 and O-1 and O-2. Spouses whose service members are on Title 10 orders, and who are within those paygrades, also are eligible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a maximum education benefit of $4,000, with an annual fiscal year cap of $2,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scholarship<\/a> <\/b>can be used only to pursue licenses, credentials or associate degrees geared toward assisting spouses in their portable-career paths. It doesn\u2019t cover bachelor\u2019s, graduate or general-purpose associate degrees, nor can it be used for school-related costs outside tuition, such as books or room and board. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A number of military spouses over the years have asked that the program be expanded in scope and eligibility, and Kaine\u2019s staff members <\/b>said they had heard the same requests for varying expansions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere will have to be an analysis of current uses of the program to ensure it\u2019s expanded in a way that\u2019s both cost effective and will not hurt access for any spouses currently using it,\u201d said Miryam Lipper, a spokeswoman for Kaine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The spouse-employment bill introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., doesn’t specifically discuss MyCAA expansion, but a Kaine staffer says a study mandated by the bill is intended to lead to wider program offerings. (Susan Walsh\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This proposed legislation calls for a two-part assessment: Find out whether eligible spouses are aware of the program, and find out participation levels among those who qualify. With that information in hand, the Government Accountability Office would recommend ways to increase both awareness and participation among eligible spouses.<\/p>\n\n\n\t