Weekly Column

     In the competitive world that we live in there is no greater investment, no issue more important, than the education of the nation's children. President Bush and Congress have acknowledged the future of our economy and the nation's viability are dependent on education. And although President Bush has proposed and helped implement major increases in education funding, I believe this year's budget falls short in two important areas. Under the President's budget, important programs to assist students to prepare for college will be cut. Both of these programs have made significant impact in lives of Oklahoma students and I will work to ensure the funding will continue to be available.

     The primary purpose of the Federal TRIO programs is to identify qualified individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds and prepare them for higher education. TRIO is geared toward low-income students whose parents did not choose to attend college. The program provides students with a long list of services that may not traditionally be offered by their high schools, including academic advice and assistance, tutorial services, help with college admission and financial aid applications, mentoring and counseling. In Oklahoma's Fourth Congressional District, there are 18 TRIO programs that have served almost 6,000 students.

     GEAR UP also helps meet the needs of low-income students nationwide, but focuses more on groups of children instead of selected individuals. It centers on getting students to think and prepare for college early, starting when children are in middle school. GEAR UP has a continuous presence in the lives of participating children all the way through high school to college admittance. It is a working public-private education partnership that enlists the involvement of parents, teachers, guidance counselors and school administrators as well as community groups, business, labor and places of worship. Since GEAR UP began in 1999, Oklahoma's college attendance has increased from 55.1 percent to 57.9 percent of high school graduates. That is a big improvement. 

     Oklahoma has successfully utilized TRIO and GEAR UP to meet the needs of its students. From talking to university presidents, administrators, and faculty in Oklahoma, as well as the students affected by TRIO and GEAR UP, I have concluded that these programs are a wise investment. They have proven their success and should not be eliminated to fund programs that have not yet demonstrated their effectiveness.