Blunt's Historic Higher Education Plan for Missouri Students, Families Takes Effect Todaybsra

JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Matt Blunt's historic higher education plan for Missouri students and families took effect today.  The plan increases funding for student scholarships, introduces accountability measures, provides tuition stabilization and includes the landmark Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative, which provides $335 million for new state-of-the-art learning centers for Missouri students.              "The critical investments Missouri is making today will ensure that our students preparing to be tomorrow's leaders have the tools they need to meet the challenges of the global economy," Gov. Blunt said. "This legislation will put higher education in reach for more Missouri students and families than ever before.  Significant improvements such as increased funding for Missouri 's colleges and universities, tuition stabilization measures and added scholarships will open the door to higher education for thousands of students and families across the state."                          The legislation creates the Access Missouri Scholarship that more than doubles funding for needs based scholarships, increasing the funding available statewide from $27.5 million to $72.5 million and making them more available to thousands of Missouri families. The legislation also enacts the governor's landmark Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative.               The governor's Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative is a partnership between the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA) and the state that sells loans held by students in other states generating $335 million to strengthen Missouri's colleges and universities. The initiative will provide much needed funding for state-of-the-art learning and research centers to prepare students to compete in today's global economy where higher quality learning in areas such as math and science are crucial elements for students' future success. -- http://www.bransonedge.com http://www.bransonmissouri.blogspot.com