In today's increasingly competitive job market, a college education is necessary to thrive and succeed in America. However, college remains inaccessible to low-income families with students who would otherwise be qualified for higher education. The cost of college tuition rose nearly 80% from 2003-2013, and the current upwards trend puts many families at a disadvantage.

As tuition has increased however, education funding, particularly in the state of Texas, has been slashed time and time again. Before the 2011 budget cuts, the TEXAS Grant, which is a state-funded grant that provides financial assistance to low-income families, was able to provide students with $7,100 per year of support. Now, the grant only provides $5,000 to students, though tuition has risen nearly half a grand in the same span of time. Texas has also begun phasing out the B On Time Loan, a 0% interest loan that was forgiven if a Texan had graduated within four years.

The results of these budget cuts have had adverse effects on the lives of students. Many students from financially struggling families are having to work more part-time jobs and cut back on extracurricular activities, as well as steer their focus away from their studies. It's statistically proven that low-income students are at a disadvantage in the classroom and maintain higher drop out rates than wealthy students, which is directly correlated to their financial struggles.

It's time to take action. I implore you to sign this petition for increased funding for need-based grants from the state of Texas. Texas currently ranks 46th out of the 50 states in per-pupil expenditures, and in order to continue to compete in the domestic and international markets, we must increase our support for the students that will shape our future.