Changes To TEXAS Grant Program Could Prevent Some Students From Going To College

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has sent state legislators and Governor Rick Perry a plan to retool the TEXAS Grant program making it harder for poor students to access the state’s largest pool of higher education financial aid.

Instead of focusing on financial need, it would become a more competitive scholarship program, and focus on students who excel academically.

From the Dallas Morning News:

Since 2004, the state hasn’t provided enough money to cover all students eligible for the grants, which provide about $5,200 a year – enough to cover average tuition and fees at public universities.

For the coming school year, the coordinating board estimates there will be enough grant money for only 28,000 of the 70,000 new students who qualify.

Thursday’s action is a move toward deciding which students deserve the money most.

“It is not a good message to send to poor students that by virtue of the fact you’re poor, you’re going to get aid,” said Raymund Paredes, the state’s higher education commissioner. “Students from all income classes should be sent the message that you should be expected to perform as well as you can.”

Sadly, Paredes evidently doesn’t understand the original intent of the TEXAS Grants program. It was designed to help poor students. Notes State Sen. Rodney Ellis:

“Don’t be in a position where we end up being penny-wise and dollar-foolish. The plan is working,” said Mr. Ellis, who led efforts to create TEXAS Grants in 1999.

For those unfamiliar, more about the program from the DMN:

Under current rules students must take a college-preparatory curriculum in high school to qualify for the grants. The vast majority of Texas students meet that standard today.

The proposed changes come at a time when political and business leaders are pressing public universities to enroll more low-income and minority students – people who make up a growing share of the state’s workforce.

The bulk of TEXAS Grants goes to students whose families make less than $40,000 a year. Three-fourths of recipients are minorities.

Last year, the Legislature ordered a review of state aid programs to make sure money is spent efficiently. The coordinating board hired a private consultant to come up with recommendations.

The consultant recommends that to receive TEXAS Grants, students either score 1350 out of 2400 on the SAT or 18 out of 36 on the ACT; graduate in the top half of their high school class; or complete the state’s most rigorous high school curriculum.
Dr. Paredes offered an even tougher set of recommendations Thursday. They include requirements that students either score 1500 on the SAT or about 21 on the ACT; graduate in the top 30 percent of their high school class; or graduate high school with a B average.

While board members voted to send the consultant’s report to the governor and lawmakers, they didn’t expressly endorse it. Nor have they endorsed Dr. Paredes’ recommendations. Rather, several board members said they need more information on how the proposed changes would affect lower-income and minority students.

Board member Robert Wingo of El Paso said more study is needed “so we are not putting the very students we’re trying to help at risk.”

Clearly, there will be a battle over this during the 81st Texas Legislature next year.

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