Funding Our Future

I value education and believe in allowing our students, of all ages and needs, the best education we can provide to them. This means examining funding closely, spending time interacting and understanding what is best for all students. It also means giving opportunities to students and rewarding their dedication and hard work by helping them reach their long-term post-high school goals by offering state funded student financial aid. 

Recently the Joint Committee on Higher Education examined the functioning of programs like Missouri A+ Scholarship, the Access Missouri Student Financial Assistance Program, and the Higher Education Academic Scholarship (Bright Flight Scholarship) to ensure they are working in a manner that is best for students and our state. 

The Missouri Bright Flight Scholarship is the state’s only financial aid program based solely on academic achievement. It was established to encourage Missouri’s best and brightest to attend Missouri post-secondary institutions and encourage them to stay in Missouri after graduation. While successful and life-changing for those students who receive the scholarship, it appears as though fewer students take part in the program because of the small percentage of tuition expenses the award covers.  

This program was established in 1986 for students with ACT/ SAT scores that ranked in the top 3 percent of Missouri test takers. Later, in 2007, Senate Bill 389 expanded eligibility to those in the top 4 and 5 percent and increased the maximum award. Other legislation changed the program to where those in the 4-5 percent range would only get their scholarships once students in the top 3 percent received their funding. For some time, funding has been insufficient to allow for payment of scholarships for those in the fourth and fifth percentiles.  

Funding for the program will remain constant this fiscal year at $17,476,666. So, once again, those students in the 4th and 5th percentile will most likely not receive monetary awards this year. The committee was told the program’s impact could be strengthened if all students who reach the top five percent be able to receive funding.  

Other scholarships include the Access Missouri Student Financial Assistance Program and Missouri A+ Scholarship, both successful in helping students enter into post-secondary education. Access Missouri Student Financial Assistance Program is designed for public or private institutions. This program is not funded at full levels. In the Fiscal Year 2014, students at public, four-year institutions of higher learning could receive up to $2,850 according to the law; but were only given $965. This program too could be strengthened if the awards were larger. 

The Missouri A+ Scholarship provides free tuition to students who attend public community colleges for those who qualify. It is designed to help motivate students who are less likely to continue their education after college. In 2006, 11,031 high school graduates were eligible to participate. By 2010, that number grew to 17,879. Proof that it not only works, it is continuing to reach and help more Missourians. These students are found to be twice as likely to graduate within three years as compared to their counterparts who did not take part in this program. 

It is a victory for the students and our state each time a graduate stays in Missouri. This past session I offered Senate Bill 299, which would do just that, and plan to refile similar legislation this upcoming Legislative Session. 

As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or (573) 751-2272, or by fax at (573) 526-7381.