Bill would give loans to high school students in college classes

By Jaryd Wilson

Published March 16, 2007

A bill that would give more power to the state's loan authority has passed the Senate and moved to the House.

The bill, proposed by Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, would allow the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority to makes loans to families with children in grades K-12 and allow loans to be made for any elementary and secondary student instead of just college students or students enrolled in college courses.

MOHELA cannot offer loans to high school students enrolled in college courses, but this bill would change that.

"The intent of the bill is to keep the college door as open as possible for these kids," Senate Communications Office spokesman Mike Asmus said. "This is one way to do that."

With this bill, loans will be made available for remedial, developmental or test preparation courses, which are only available through a third party, such as a private institution.

Quentin Wilson, MOHELA associate director for access and success, said the bill would not alter the education process.

"We're not trying to step in and meddle in the K-12 education process," Wilson said. "But we're trying to provide a supplement to make sure the kids are able to make the decisions early enough to improve their possibility of going to college."

The bill would also allow MOHELA to offer scholarships, though the Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program is combining and increasing funds of scholarships in correlation with another umbrella higher education bill.

"Senate Bill 389 is at somewhat of a standstill right now, but the scholarships are a part of that bill once it gets moving again," Asmus said.

Asmus said both bills would be reintroduced when the Senate begins debating the other higher education bill.

Asmus said the K-12 loan bill is moving quickly.

"It is traveling well," Asmus said. "And indications are good that it will pass."

Asmus said the bill wasn't read by the Senate until Jan. 3 but is already well on its way to being in effect by the scheduled date of Aug 28.

Nodler could not be reached for comment.