Increase the college preparedness of high school graduates, a long-term goal that the state should strive for all students to reach. High schools should offer curricula that prepare students for college-level work, and students should be encouraged to complete the curriculum. The cost of attending a college or university includes not only tuition and fees, but expenses for room and board, books, transportation, and incidental expenses, as well. Students and their families have traditionally contributed a significant share, paying from 40 to 50 percent of these costs for the past three decades. However, for many families in Texas, the cost they are expected to pay has become a major barrier to obtaining a college education.
National studies show that college participation rates decrease as family income decreases.
The proposed options and recommendations in this report focus on increasing the availability of financial aid to needy students and the longer-term goal of linking students' high school performance with the availability of financial aid as an incentive to increase the level of preparedness for college of graduating high school students. A state-funded grant program should be created, and funding for various state programs should be transferred into the new program. Eligibility for a grant should be based on financial need, with a requirement of satisfactory academic progress towards a degree or certificate to maintain eligibility. A state standard should be established for determining satisfactory academic progress in college to maintain eligibility. In particular, the state should create a substantially funded grant program.