Missouri Senate Passes College Loans Legislation

Thu, Mar. 08, 2007
Missouri's college loan authority would gain new powers to make loans to families of K-12 students under legislation passed by the Senate on Wednesday night.

The Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority already can make loans to the families of high school juniors and seniors enrolled in college credit courses, though the agency has not been doing so, said Quentin Wilson, the agency's associate director for access and success.

The bill by Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, would allow loans to be made for any elementary and secondary student, regardless of whether they are enrolled in college credit courses.

It also gives MOHELA authority to create or fund college preparatory programs, which generally provide guidance to middle, junior or senior high students interested in later going to college.

"We're not trying to step in and meddle in the K-12 education process, 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," Wilson said.

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