The House budget proposal calls for a study to find ways to improve financial aid for community college students.

The budget includes a provision calling for a study by a legislative education committee, with particular emphasis on how to better serve adult working students and how to increase the number of community colleges that participate in federal student loan programs.

The provision echoes recommendations by the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research, which last month released a report calling for better financial aid at the state's 58 community colleges. The report quoted a national study that ranked North Carolina third-worst in the country because only 47 percent of the state's community college students have access to federal student loan programs.

Only 23 of 58 community colleges now offer their needy students low-interest federal loans. Those that don't participate in the loan programs fear they'll lose all federal financial aid if too many of their students default on loans. The center recommended that all colleges create loan default prevention programs. 

The U.S. Senate voted today to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, which toughens guidelines for colleges and lenders after questions of ethics have swirled around the student-loan industry.

Sen. Richard Burr touted two of his amendments that were included in the legislation, reports Jane Stancill.

One would expedite a study on simplifying the long and complex federal financial aid forms. The other would require universities that prepare future teachers to set yearly goals for increasing the production of teachers in high need areas such as math, science, special education and English as a second language.

In a news release, Burr said the legislation would also ensure that parents and students have more information about tuition and fees and continue support for North Carolina's ten historically black colleges and universities.