| Students in San Antonio Schools in 2008 will have | | | | There is a strong correlation between poverty |
| college savings options that haven't existed since | | | | and poor academic success. Some administrators |
| 2003. The Texas Tomorrow II plan is a | | | | in San Antonio Schools fear that the current |
| revamped version of the original state savings | | | | set-up will put colleges in the position of raising |
| program that many residents in San Antonio | | | | tuition to make up for the inflation they are stuck |
| Schools blasted as useless before it was ended in | | | | paying. And who's left with the higher tuition? |
| 2003. | | | | Students who didn't purchase prepaid programs- |
| The problem with the original plan was that it | | | | usually the lower income families. |
| didn't account for inflation. So San Antonio Schools | | | | That's not to say that most residents of San |
| families who used it as their main vehicle for | | | | Antonio Schools don't like the program. Actually, |
| college savings found themselves no better off. | | | | most parents are pleased that the state has |
| Governor Rick Perry announced this newer | | | | finally replaced the old model. Some features that |
| version that is based on the purchase of units. | | | | parents in the San Antonio Schools like are that |
| Here's how it works. | | | | they can transfer funds from the old program, or |
| Imagine a student in the San Antonio Schools | | | | from 529 plans, into the Texas Tomorrow II plan. |
| hope to attend a decent four year college. The | | | | It's also more accessible because families can |
| parents would purchase the appropriate number | | | | start paying even if they don't have money to |
| of units that the family can currently afford. Unlike | | | | pay for a complete year. |
| the old plan, families don't have to pay for 2, 4 or | | | | But, some parents and educators in San Antonio |
| 5 years, but whatever they want. The Texas | | | | Schools point out- it's still not perfect. Funds can't |
| Prepaid Higher Education Board will set prices | | | | be used for books, food or housing; all items that |
| annually. Currently a two-year college costs 23 | | | | make up a significant portion of college tuition. And |
| units for a full year, and four-year colleges range | | | | for the poorest students in Texas and in San |
| from 57-81 units. | | | | Antonio, it may not do much to get them into |
| Proponents in San Antonio Schools and throughout | | | | college. Still, the overall attitude of most of San |
| Texas claim that this protects parents because | | | | Antonio Schools families seems to be that they |
| any inflation increases will be paid by the colleges. | | | | need all the help they can get. With college cost |
| However, some in the San Antonio Schools fear | | | | rising, and even upper middle class families |
| that the results might actually hurt those the plan | | | | struggling meet tuition, it's not surprising that |
| was designed to help. A great concern for San | | | | scores of San Antonio families are eagerly |
| Antonio Schools is closing the achievement gap | | | | anticipating the new plan. |
| that exists between white and minority students. | | | | |